One wedding industry tracking group calculates the average wedding cost in 2009 was slightly under $22,000, not including the honeymoon or rings.

In a recent Post-Gazette article reporting how brides are planning smaller and less expensive weddings, our pal Herman Heyl helps make a point we've wanted to for a while:

Brides are opting to use more greenery and less expensive flowers, such as daisies and carnations. Smaller bouquets might save a little on price because fewer flowers are used, but the charge for labor is nearly the same as for a larger bouquet.

One great way to save money on your wedding centerpieces is to buy your own glassware and apply your own elbow grease.  If you're lucky enough to live near an Ikea, that's a great place to get inexpensive glassware, such as the rectangular vase below (much of their glassware is also available online at http://ikea.com):

One of our recent brides did just that--she purchased her own glassware, and some ribbon, and decorated the vases herself.  We then made simple arrangements of white hydrangea, orange spray roses and green hypericum berries, and delivered the final piece to the reception site, Greystone Fields.

Working together, we were able to create an elegant centerpiece that fill well within her budget.

Not every florist is cool with the idea of brides supplying glassware, so you may have to ask a couple to find one willing to work with you.  Remember to buy and decorate a few extra vases, just in case.

If you're a fan of hydrangea, you need to check out Hydrangea World, a site dedicated to hydrangea.  Hydrangea World is filled with photos of stunning arrangements, information about the different varieties, and photos of the different colors of hydrangea.  You and your florist can use this information as a guide when planning your wedding or event.

Hydrangea World is produced by the Flower Council of Holland, and has more of a European vibe than South American, where a great deal of hydrangea are also produced.

You know you don't live in Louisville anymore when people get married on Derby Day.  Fortunately, our part was done in time for the race.

The bride's bouquet was a hand tied mix of pink peonies, ivory garden roses, light pink roses and ivory spray roses.  Approx. cost, $170-$185.

The couple was married under the gazebo at The Atrium, and we decorated with a lush fern garland and overhead spray roses, snapdragons and larkspur in shades of pink and cream.  Approx. price for floral spray, $95-$110.

The aisle was adorned with pomander balls made from pink carnations, and hung from the chairs.  Approx. price, $20-$30 each.

This is a sample we made for the Butler Country Club's bridal open house.  There were about eight white garden roses and about six stems of purple lilacs.  It may be the most beautifully fragrant bouquet we've ever made.

Give your guests a secret number!

When assembling your guest list, give each address a number.  Write this number lightly, in pencil, on the back of your response card prior to mailing.  If guests forget to write their name on the card, or if you can not read their writing, you know who is responding by their secret number.

Consider KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes!

KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes are available with most Birchcraft invitations and save time and effort when mailing your wedding invitations.  Simply uncover the self-adhesive edge by peeling off the protective strip and press the envelope closed.  Save even more time when you choose to pre-print your address on the back of these envelopes.

Why is it so important to put your address on the back of the invitation envelope?

Nobody is perfect!  Should you have an error on your guest list, the invitation will be returned to you by the post office.  Otherwise you will never know your invitation did or did not arrive.  For a minimal charge, you can have your return address printed on the invitation envelope in a matching ink color and lettering style when your invitations are being printed.

Why do you send a Response Card?

Response cards are a convenient way for your guests to reply and for you to plan properly.  They save time and money on your reception cost, especially if a meal is being served, by allowing you to keep track of an exact head count.  If you are offering a meal choice, this can also be indicated on the response card.  Response cards include a reply envelope printed with your name and address (or that of a parent or friend collecting the RSVPs).  Do not forget to affix stamps to the reply envelope!

Why is using the correct postage most important?

Before addressing your invitations, put together a complete invitation ensemble with all of your enclosure cards and envelopes.  Bring your invitation ensemble to your local post office and have them weigh it and determine the proper amount of postage.  Invitations that are over one ounce, or square or oversized (which is most invitations) require extra postage.  If your invitations are returned for insufficient postage, your envelopes will be ruined and redoing them will not only cost you more money, but interfere with your time frame.  While at the post office, ask the postal clerk to show you their beautiful wedding stamps.

When do you order your invitations, and how many do you order?

Be sure to have confirmed details of your ceremony and reception before ordering your invitations.  This includes the date, time and the location(s).  You should also have an accurate head count.  Order one invitation for each single adult, and one for each couple/family invited.  Order 25 extra invitations now, just in case.

When do you send out your wedding invitations?

Invitations are traditionally sent out 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding.  Send a Save the Date card or wedding announcement 4 to 6 months before your wedding to notify guests you are getting married, especially if it is during a holiday weekend or if they need to travel.  This will provide plenty of notice if travel arrangements and hotel reservations are required.

Find more great advice for wedding invitations in our Wedding Invitation category.

The Bloomery is pleased to feature invitations from Carlson Craft and Birchcraft, most at a 30% discount.  You can order online from either site and still receive the discount.

The Succop Conservancy, one of our favorite ceremony and reception sites, is having its third annual bridal open house tomorrow, March 29, 2009, from 11am to 3pm.  If you're interested in an outdoor ceremony and/or reception, you really need to check out The Conservancy.  The grounds feature two ponds, a gorgeous estate house, a pondside shelter, and manicured gardens.  Indoor functions are also available, but the ponds are outside.

The weather should be nice tomorrow, so you can tour the beautiful grounds of this country estate.  We have a table with some silk arrangements and information, but are unable to attend because of an event conflict.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Besides running Lake Arthur Country Club (where we had our wedding reception), Tim and Marie have started a new venture--making hand carved unity candles.

Tim carves the unity candles in a variety of patterns, including angels and crosses, in addition to the designs below.  Current colors include Christmas red and Christmas green, royal purple, coneflower blue, pink, yellow, black and white, with additional colors not in the melters--call or e-mail if you want to discuss a particular color combination.

Besides the TLC that goes into making these candles, what makes these candles so special is that they don't actually burn.  At the top of the candle, Tim inserts an oil lamp and 500-hour wick.  The bottom accommodates a small battery operated LED for additional light.  This allows you to use your candle in your ceremony and enjoy your candle afterwards without ruining it.

Some photos of their work are below.  If you're interested, call Tim and Marie at 724-865-2765 (during the golf season, this rings in the pro shop), or e-mail Marie at mavunc1@aol.com.

The Butler Country Club is planning their 2009 Wedding Open House on April 26 from 10am to 1pm.  You can enjoy hors d'oeuvres and champagne as you tour the club.  You'll be able to tour the ballroom, clubhouse, patio and greens (beautiful for photos).  Indoor and outdoor ceremonies, receptions and photography sessions are all options at the BCC.

You do not need to be a member of the BCC to have your even there, and with a sales coordinator will be on hand to answer your questions.  Reception dates are booking quickly.  And, since we're the house florist, we'll be there.

An RSVP is required for this event, please contact Lisa Burek at 724-586-7701 x232, or sales@butlercc.org.  If you can't make it on April 26, contact Lisa for a personal tour of the Club.

Click this link for more information on the 2009 wedding open house.

Click this link for more information on wedding packages from the Butler Country Club.

The Atrium is offering complimentary wedding package upgrades if you book a Friday or Saturday package before March 31.  You can choose chair covers and sashes or floor length linens.

The Atrium is also planning a bridal showcase on April 11 at 1pm.  Full details at http://www.theatriumonline.com/wp/about/bridal-showcase/.  We'll be there, as will some of their other vendors.  Preregistration is required.

The new Carlson Craft Pockets Invitations book has arrived!  Pockets Invitations are a trendy new style, and feature layouts, colors and styles for a more modern wedding or event.  And, The Bloomery offers a 30% discount on Pockets Invitations every day!  Just order through our site at http://bloomery.cceasy.com/.

Also available for Pockets Invitations is V.I.P. Printing--Carlson Craft will print the addresses of your guests on the outer envelopes, and RVSP return for the inner envelopes.  Printing is done in the color and typeface that your invitations are, providing a neat and uniform look to your ensemble.  When you order your invitations through our site (http://bloomery.cceasy.com/), indicate you want V.I.P. Printing.  Then, you fill out an Excel template (download at http://www.addressingonline.com/vip/) and e-mail it to Carlson Craft.  Your invitations will arrive addressed!

Come see us at the Days Inn Butler 2009 Winter Bridal Show, Feb 22, 2009 from 12pm to 4pm.

More info at http://www.daysinnbutler.com/contact_us.

For the full selection of Birchcraft invitations, napkins, etc. at a 20-30% discount every day, check out our invitation site at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings.

New Eggplant and Kiwi ink colors

Hues of purple and green are very trendy now (see our 2009 Wedding Color Trends report), and Birchcraft is keeping with the latest styles by adding inks to coordinate with the rest of your wedding.

Six Eco-Friendly Soy-Based Inks

These inks are made from soybeans, as opposed to traditional petroleum-based inks, so if you’re having a green wedding, consider the ink choice on your invitations.  The six colors are:

Eight Combination Lettering Styles

increase the options for couples who want to highlight their names in today's latest styles.

Three new Liner Colors

Crimson, Eggplant and Kiwi - to match the latest ink styles.

Wedgewood Foil

Few things say elegance like Wedgewood, and Wedgewood foil is now available as an ink choice on many invitations, napkins, etc.