CasaSugar

Registry Roundup: Furniture

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:00:55 -0700

Though it may be a bit untraditional, for young couples living on their own for the first time or for recent graduate student couples, registering for furniture is a good way to get the basics for your home, without running up credit card debt. In rare cases, a generous relative may pony up and buy you an entire sofa. For everyone else, there are retailers that will allow you to register for items at various price points (that will be affordable for all of your guests), and then
essentially exchange them for a credit to spend on a high priced item you actually want, such as furniture. You can also register for cash gifts on MyRegistry, which can be combined to get you the dining table you're hankering for. If you do decide to register for furniture, choose the basics: bed, dresser, sofa, coffee table, dining table, and ottoman, along with four to six dining chairs. Following those guidelines, I rounded up several furnishings that I myself would register for. My choices, I think, are a good combination of a masculine color scheme, some feminine curves, and classic designs that should last at least as long as a good marriage. We also have a downloadable wedding registry you can use, and for a look at all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Source

Casa Craving Challenge: Your Very Own Registry

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:30:21 -0700

To mark the start of wedding season (!) and the launch of IDoSugar.com, for this week's Casa Craving Challenge, I figured I'd focus on registries. So, I'd like you to hunt down and bookmark the items you're pining for, or in need of, which you'd register for if you were (or are) tying the knot. Use our downloadable registry as a guide to get ideas. And, since this is Casa, not Yum, let's stick to bedroom, bath, accessory, outdoor, and housekeeping items. Show me all of your fab finds by creating Casa Cravings and tagging them with the phrase it's wedding season. I'll feature the results next Wednesday, April 9. Please let me know if you have any questions.

For a list of online home stores to try, read more.

Amazon Home
Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Crate & Barrel
Design Within Reach
Etsy
Gump's
Ikea
Jonathan Adler
Lekker Home
Linens and Things
Macy's Home
Pottery Barn
Restoration Hardware
Room & Board
Target
Urban Outfitters
Unica Home
West Elm
World Market

Source

Registry Roundup: Services

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:00:12 -0700

When it comes time to register for your wedding, instead of signing up for a $1600 gravy boat that you'll use only once a year, why not register for some services for your home that you can enjoy year-round? Collecting essential home furnishings here and there isn't so painful, but when it comes to writing a check to your landscaper, housekeeper, movers, etc., you'll wish you'd asked for it as a nuptial gift. So, I've rounded up some great services that'll make your married life a whole lot easier (and affordable). To learn where to register for them, check out this post. Had you thought about hiring an energy auditor for your home to reduce your environmental footprint, not to mention your monthly utility bills? Could your closets use some organization now that they'll be home for two wardrobes? Will you and your future better-half be moving to a new home? Do you envision a weekly housekeeper in your new life? Take a look at the widget below for some fab, registry-worthy services. We also have a downloadable wedding registry you can use, and for a look at all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Source

Registry Roundup: The Bathroom

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:45:14 -0700

As you begin contemplating your wedding registry, consider your bathroom. After all, the bathroom is the most public private room in your home: You can guarantee that every guest who steps into your home will use it, and they'll develop an impression of your home style and habits through it. Due to this, you want to keep your bathroom as organized, clean, stylish, and guest-friendly as possible. I've gathered a lot of different bath products and accessories that will dress up this space, many of which will add a lot of style at a small price point. Also, by registering for a number of smaller price tag products, you're guaranteeing that your guests will be able to pick up a few gifts for you instead of just one. Take a look at the widget for some ideas. For a look at all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

HANG Wall Hooks - Silver - $68.00	PB Classic Bath Rug - $28.00
Kiki Tank Tray - $19.99	Translations Wastebasket - $24.99
Couture Towels, 100% Cotton - $10.19	Fern Forest Bathmat - $38.00
Black Soapstone Soap Dish or Canisters - $9.99	Earth Therapeutics® Far-Reaching Natural Bristle Back Brush with Ergo Grip - $7.99
Pollenex Solid Teak Shower Mat - $39.99	Isola Bella Bath Towels, Cotton - $8.00
Kaiku Shower Curtain - $48.00	Pop Ink Wedding Shower Soap Set - $24.00
Medici Bath Towels - $26.00	Pangea Organics Lotion - $15.99
Bedford Jacquard Towels - $10.00	Wastepaper Basket - Stainless Steel - $86.50
Dressed to Thrill Shower Curtain - $14.99	Mercer Magazine Rack & Paper Holder - $79.00
Acacia Wastecan/Tank Tray - $14.95	Continental Fingertip Stand - $24.99
Frosted Bath Jar - $12.00	Tile Jacquard Towel - $9.00
The World Vinyl Shower Curtain - $19.99	Masai Wire Wastebasket by Umbra - $12.99
Rouen Soap Dishes - $16.00	Mixed Greens Shower Curtain - $88.00
Cherry Blossom Towels - $19.00	Organic Animal Print Bath Mat - $29.00
Turkish Towels Breeze Collection - $9.00	Hardwood Double Hook Rack - $29.99
Vine Weave Hamper - $69.00	Marseille Soap - Fig - $25.00
Bamboo Lattice Storage Stool - $89.00	Two-Tone Stainless Steel Wastebasket - $9.99
Bamboo Drawer Organizer Trays - $6.99	Pangea Organics Liquid Soap - $12.99
Lava Swirl Washcloth - $8.00	Cairo Shower Curtain - $19.99
Sea Life Embroidered Bath Accessories - $35.00	Yellow or Red Glass Canisters - $12.99
Silver woods tumbler - $18.00	The Sucker by Droog Design - $18.00
Hourglass Jacquard Towels - Java & Parisian Blue - $12.00	Clifton Shower Tension Rod - $19.99
Mr. & Mrs. Hang-Up Coat Hooks - $14.99	Silver Metalla Can by Umbra - $12.99
Square Bath Accessories - $29.00	Pop Ink Totally Flocked Soap Set - $24.00
Scented, Paper-Wrapped Soap - $7.99	4 piece Maize Hamper Set - $39.99
Bath Rugs Breeze Collections - $28.00	Madras Storage Basket - $29.99
Kuma Walnut Countertop Essentials - $10.99	Kuma Walnut Countertop Accessories - $12.99
Stainless Steel Toilet Brush - $19.99	Pastoral Bath Towels - $8.00
Petal Falls Shower Curtain - $148.00	Java Pandan Bath Essentials - $14.99
Meadowsweet Shower Curtain - $88.00	Shower Curtains Sky Collections - $14.00
Bath Rugs Flax Collections - $28.00	Tile Print Shower Curtain - $59.00

Source

Open House: Wedding Décor DIYs

CasaSugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:04:35 -0700

As we skirt through wedding season, I've given you some DIY suggestions like wine glass candle lampshades and a DIY wedding book, but of course, I know there's plenty more to offer in that department. So for this Open House, I'd love to hear about any types of wedding décor you've seen DIY'd or that you've handmade for your own weddings.

Have you been to an entirely DIY wedding? Received any homemade goodie baskets? Did your friends arrange their own flowers at their weddings? Sew the tablecloths or napkins? Make their own candles? How about the invites? Were they handmade? I bet you've encountered some DIY wedding décor somewhere along the line. Tell me by commenting below! As always, check out IDoSugar for all of our wedding coverage.
Source

Wedding Planner: Make Your Own Stamps

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0700

One place where I splurged when planning my wedding was designing and ordering custom postage stamps. Since I'd put so much time into designing my invitations, I didn't want to muck up the pretty envelopes with the pink, overly saccharine Love stamps that were my option from the USPS (plus the pink stamps would clash horribly with my celedon green envelopes). Instead, I decided to design postage stamps through Zazzle, which has partnered with the USPS to provide stamps to folks who are interested in designing them to mark special occasions or to just add a little bit of fun to a letter.

To see how to make your own stamps, just read more.

The process is very simple. Just upload a photo, add text, and then click and drag the image or text until you have it perfectly placed. You can even choose between a wide range of font sizes and styles, and also choose the size of your stamp. Stamps are also available in a number of postal rates, from Postcard to Priority. I think this is a great way to add a little something extra to an invitation and a bit of a couple's personality to the envelope or RSVP card. Granted, it will cost you a bit more. A sheet of 20 first-class stamps in the small size on Zazzle is $14.95, while a sheet of 20 at the post office would only run you $8.40. Still, if you order more than one sheet, you get $2 taken off each order. I figured that I ended up paying an extra $75 for all of my postage, and even though we're trying to keep a tight rein on our budget, my fiancé and I both agreed that this was one place we were happy to splurge.

To get started, just go here, and for all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Casa Quickie: Displaying Treasured Photos at Your Reception

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:00:50 -0700

If you're looking for a more organic way to display photos at your wedding reception then steal this idea, which I found in wedding photographer Elizabeth Messina's portfolio. Just wrap a tree snugly with twine and clothespin photos to it. It would even look cuter with some custom clothespins.

For all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.
Source

Home Away From Home: Wedding Hotel Tips

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:57 -0700

For destination weddings, or if you have guests coming from out of town, reserve group blocks at a hotel nearby, and make sure to ask for a discounted wedding rate, which is routine.
Tell your guests to look online for lower hotel rates as well, if a hotel has a lot of vacant rooms (typical during off-season), they may be offering discounts via web reservations.
Reserve blocks at more than one hotel in town, to accommodate different price ranges, from budget to luxury, and families with children, etc. This will also allow you to keep the old folks and youngins away from the up-till-dawn crowd, by simply sending out different hotel details with your invites.
Steer clear of reserving blocks at hotels with "attrition policies," which may charge you for rooms that are not booked.
Under no circumstances should you feel obligated to pay for your guests' accommodations.
Reserve your rooms as soon as possible, as soon as your location and date have been decided. Especially during "wedding season" in popular locales, hotels book up quickly; you wouldn't want your guests to bail simply because there were no hotels to stay in.
If the hotel(s) is far from the reception, and guests will be drinking, rent a shuttle to get your guests home safely when the night is over.
Make out-of-town guests feel at home by putting a welcome basket full of goodies in each hotel room. Check with the hotel to see what toiletries (toothpaste, lotion, etc.) they may not provide, so your guests will have everything they need during their stay.

For more tips, just read more.

If any of your guests are less than cordial with each other, suggest separate hotels for each party to make sure things go smoothly.
Got kids? Hire a professional sitter to hang at the hotel, in case any of the kids lose interest in the reception and need to leave. That way, their parents can enjoy the party.
Book one room in the hotel to be the after-party venue. That way guests can come and go as they please, without getting in the car.
When reserving your hotel, especially in a small town, ask how often they've hosted wedding parties, and make sure they're equipped and staffed for a heavy load.
Having a wedding overseas? Make sure your hotel is furnished with safes for valuables like passports, etc.
Don't get reeled in by wedding packages. You may be able to get a better deal with your hotel than they normally offer, depending on your needs, the time frame, etc. Make sure you read the fine print.
Test out the directions to your hotel before you print them (and include a map); the smallest mistake can cause your whole wedding party to arrive late.
Check out the rooms if you're suggesting rooms at a hotel you've never used before — even budget hotels should be clean and offer the basics.
Book a room in a different hotel than the one your guests will stay in on your wedding night; you'll want your privacy!
Don't freak out too much about the hotel details, your guests will ultimately take care of themselves!

And as always, for all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.
Source

How-To: Making Your Wedding a Little Greener

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:30:30 -0700

Unfortunately, just because you're holding your wedding ceremony in the great outdoors that doesn't mean your celebration is good for the planet. If you want some ideas for cutting down on the environmental impact of your big day, take a look at my tips.

For a Greener Wedding

Who doesn't love flowers? You can keep your flowers eco by buying organic blooms or buying the flowers locally.
When considering where to hold your wedding, think about where most of your guests are located. Midwest? East Coast? The Southwest? Then, consider holding your ceremony there. It will cut down on travel expenses as well as the environmental cost of planes, trains, and automobiles.
You can now buy compostable cups, plates, and utensils for your shindig. This means that your guests' plates will end up enriching the soil instead of sitting in a landfill.
If guests are traveling from a long distance, ask them to offset the carbon produced from their travel. It's cheap, quick, and easy. In lieu of wedding favors, which are often thrown away or forgotten, you could also offset your entire wedding guest list's carbon output. You could have a message telling them about the carbon offset "gift" printed up on wildflower seed cards that are left on each guest's plate. Make sure the guests take the cards home and plant them.

For the rest of my tips, just read more.

Instead of cut flowers, arrange small potted flowers in groupings on reception tables. Encourage guests to take the plants home to their garden at the end of the party.
Keep your registry eco-oriented, with gifts from green designers, artists, and furniture stores. Crate and Barrel and Ikea are two big retailers that have consistently scored high marks in terms of environmental responsibility.
Print your invitations on recycled paper that use nontoxic, soy-based inks.

Anyone else have some great ideas to make your wedding greener? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

For all of our wedding coverage check out IDoSugar.
Source

Would You Send Wedding Poster Invites?

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:00:15 -0700

Unless Someone Like You, who designs and sells wedding poster invites like this one, says, "For my wedding I wanted something really different, so we sent out 11x17 posters in tubes instead of an invitation." She suggests you "frame and mat the poster with no glass, and set it out at the reception for friends and family to sign the mat with their blessings and best wishes." What do you think of this idea? Would you send your invites in poster form? To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Phillipe Dining Table - $2,195.00	Calypso Arm Chair - $399.00
philippe starck Victoria Ghost Side Chair - Set of 4 - $1,320.00	Eva Zeisel Coffee Table - $1,500.00
Southport Storage Cube - $199.00	Rochelle Sofa - $1,499.00
Antwerp Chair, Naive Tropical - $1,498.00	Jacoby Ottoman, Papillon - $698.00
Fairmont Upholstered Bed - $1,975.00	Whitman Chest Of Drawers - $2,995.00