Affordable Utah Weddings

Your wedding day is YOUR day and you should get to enjoy every last detail of it- including the wedding cake! The thought of not even eating a bite of your own wedding cake is something that might not even cross the minds of most brides, but if you have Celiac decease or are gluten intolerant this little detail might be one of the hardest to get around.

Luckily with all the information coming out lately about living a gluten free life, wedding planners are beginning to have a few more gluten free wedding cake options.  I’ve done a little bit of local research for you, and here’s what I’ve found.

Local Bakeries Offering Gluten Free Wedding Cakes-

Sugar and Spice Bakery, Ogden Utah 801-394-3354

Carrie’s Cakes Sandy, UT 801-571-1620

Kari’s Cakeventures Spanish Fork, UT 801-735-2830

Many other bakeries will make a gluten free cake for you even if it’s not on their official list of cakes offered.  Pamela’sProducts.com, the website for a company specializing in selling gluten free mixes, has created a document specifically made to bring to your bakery as you request a gluten free cake.  The document has been created with professional bakers and includes recipes and tips on creating gluten free weddings cakes.  It’s free to download- click here for the link.

If you’re worried that your guests won’t enjoy a traditional cake made gluten free, consider a less traditaional cake.  Cheesecake wedding cakes or tortes made with almond flour can be delicious and beautiful and don’t stray too far from tradtion.  An icecream wedding cake would be a lot of fun for everyone to eat- you’d just have to cut it at the beginning of the reception so it wouldn’t melt!  I’ve also heard of a bride and groom ordering a traditional cake and then making matching gluten free cupcakes that were arranged on a cute stand next to the cake.

With a bit of imagination, I’m sure you can find a solution that works perfectly for you.

I’m so excited about this week’s featured company!  Utah is just full of beautiful mountain landscapes that are perfect locations for rustic or barn weddings and receptions.  Whispering Pines offers a whole collection of wedding decor that is just perfect for planning your natural themed wedding.  Their collection features those perfect little details that you’ll just love, from tiny twig next that can be used as a ring bearer ‘pillow’ to a variety of baskets and vases to create the perfect centerpieces. Their site even includes a wedding blog full of ideas for rustic weddings.  It’s the perfect place to find the newest ideas for natural themed weddings.

This week, as our featured company, Whispering Pines has offered a FREE gift basket full of wedding decor for one of our lucky readers!

5- Assorted glass colored eggs http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/products/glass-egg-collection

A lucky winner will be chosen Saturday July 4, 2009.  To enter, simply leave a comment on this post!

People are always asking me how I find my the wedding deals that I feature on this site.  Really, it’s no mystery.  Mostly I just make an effort to search as much as I can.  I keep a notebook with me at all times in case I pass a little shop or sign that looks promising.  I also ask around as much as I can to find those companies who spread through word of mouth. (if you know of a good one please email it to me at vendors@jessicageorgedesign.com!)

There are a few great places I have used to find some good vendors and I’d love to share those with you to hopefully help you find just what you’re looking for.

The most important part of searching for an affordable wedding vendor is to remember that if they aren’t charging much for their services, they probably don’t have much money to advertise.  Billboards, magazine advertisements and store fronts on large roads or in a mall are all easy to find- but cost a lot of money for the vendor.  (and therefore, usually for you as well!)  Companies without a lot of advertising money can get their names out there in some of the following ways-

-Ksl.com classifieds and Craigslist.   I know it sounds funny to plan your wedding off of a site that’s primarily for selling used goods- but there’s an event/wedding service section on each of these that is just full of great wedding deals.

-google, yahoo, and msn ads.  You know those annoying things that are on the side of your screen all the time?  These are honestly where I find most of the best deals.  They cost only a few cents to put up so lots of low cost vendors can advertise on them.  They come up according to the content of the site you’re on, so if you’re on a site about weddings most of the ads should be wedding based.  A lot of them even have a scroll button so if you don’t see any ads for the things you’re searching for you can keep scrolling through to find something better.

-Facebook- Facebook allows businesses to create free business pages and promote their sites through cheap advertising!  It’s a great place to search.

-Wanted/Ad boards- most grocery stores and a lot of wedding stores have a board near their entrance where vendors can hang up fliers for free.  They’re definitely worth taking a minute to read through.

-Word of mouth- everyone loves to brag about a great deal they’ve found.  Ask around!  You’re bound to find someone who knows someone.

I’ve had quite a few people come up to me lately and ask me how I find the Utah wedding vendors that I feature on this site.  As I’ve explained to them the process I take, they’ve all been very impressed with one specific aspect of the process and told me that I really should share this with all of my readers.  So here I am, sharing the process   I hope it helps you understand why this site is different than most wedding planning sites out there.

The specific aspect that everyone gets excited about is the fact that I don’t charge anything for vendors to get a write up on this site.  Perhaps this doesn’t seem like a big deal if you’re not very familiar with how most wedding planning sites work, so let me explain a bit.

Throughout Utah there are a ton of great resources to help you find local wedding information.  Most have a great list of local vendors who can do everything from host your wedding reception to preserve your wedding bouquet.  These lists are provided in wonderful, full color books that are handed out to brides-to-be for free at ring shops and wedding gown stores.  They can be found from billboards that literally line I-15 informing all of us of websites FULL of Utah wedding information.  You can even pick up a magazine full of information provided by just about every Utah college campus. These resources are fantastic- in fact they are what I used almost completely to plan my own Utah wedding.  I really believe they have only one flaw-  Their prices.

Oh yes, I know they are very free to use if you are a bride.  But as a wedding vendor?  It’s a very different story.  To have your wedding company featured in one of these magazines or websites costs a LOT of money every couple of months.  We’re talking thousands of dollars here.  Yes, thousands.  Plural.  Every 2-6 months. (depending on the publication) So what does that mean for you?  Well, if a company has that much money to use for advertising they’re obviously getting it somewhere.  And it’s probably out of YOUR pocket.  All they have to do is raise their prices a little bit and they’ve got all the advertising money they need.

By featuring companies for free, we can find companies who can keep their prices low because they’re not paying a few thousand dollars each month on advertising.   It’s not how much money they have, but rather the quality of their work and price they charge you that gets them onto this site.   I go through and personally pick out appropriate businesses so we’re not just bringing you a list of businesses who paid us to get on here- we’re bringing you a list of our personal recommendations.

I am constantly searching for new, affordable wedding businesses to feature on our site.  If you know of a great deal please pass the information along!  You can email the business’ name, phone or website (really, whatever you know!) to vendors@jessicageorgedesign.com and I’ll personally look up the rest of the information we’ll need to get them onto AffordableUtahWeddings.com.

Found another one!  Due to the large amount of requests I’ve received to feature more wedding gown rental locations, I’ve been searching them out.  Unfortunately- as many of you searching for rental places already know- these places are kinda hard to find!  Here’s the most recent that I’ve heard of-

Mrs Dresses is located in Logan, UT, right by the campus of Utah State University.  Your rental price includes the dress (of course!) plus a cleaning and two accessories such as a veil, hoop skirt or slip.  For more information or with any questions please email mrsdresses@gmail.com.

I just love rustic themed weddings.  I love that they are so unique and yet so comfortable all at the same time.

For those of you planning a barn wedding, or just adding a rustic feel to a wedding somewhere else- you should really take a look at the Whispering Pines Wedding collection.  This online catalog is full of ideas for table decor, bridal party gifts, favors and more- all of which are just perfect for a rustic wedding.  They really are the items that add the perfect touch to a wedding reception.

Just about every girl has dreamed of her wedding day for as long as she can remember.  There’s just something magical about the perfect white gown, all of your loved ones in one place and, of course, being united with the man of your dreams!  Unfortunately, for most of us, the magic of planning the wedding fades quickly as soon as we have to take the step from dreaming up wedding colors to actually making reservations and spending every spare moment coordinating tiny details.

As I look back on my own engagement, the one thing that I really regret is not having someone there to help me figure out all those crazy little details.  Your Wedding in a Box is one company who can provide that needed support for those of you who’d like to actually take time to enjoy your engagement!  With this great company, you can get someone to help you plan your entire wedding or just organize a few small details.

Your Wedding in a Box has a complete list of preferred vendors that they can refer you to and they even offer many services themselves- including photography packages.  I’m so excited about what they’ve offered for this week’s giveaway!  One of you lucky readers will receive a FREE Bridal Session from through their very own photographers!  All you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment on this post!  A winner will be chosen Saturday, June 27, 2009.

I just heard about an AMAZING wedding find! This is one of those things you typically only hear about if you know somebody who knows somebody- but lucky for all of you, I know somebody who knows about this lady.

Joan Astle, owner of Today and Forever Bridal Gowns, runs a little wedding dress company out of her house in Park City near the Canyons resort.  She has hundreds of couture gowns that she sells at wholesale and below.  All you have to do to try them on is make an appointment and go tell her what you like!

Dresses are either $250 or $350, veils sold at half price.  Dresses priced at $250 are originally priced from $500-$5000 dresses priced at $350 are originally priced from $5,000-$10,000.  Joan can also alter your gown to make it temple ready if necessary.

I haven’t been there myself, but my cousin just bought a wedding dress from her and it is just stunning!  Pure silk with beautiful bead work- originally $1,500- my cousin paid only $250!  You definitely have to check this place out!

By appointment only

call Joan Astle – home 435.649.9179, cell- 435.640.2014

I’m so excited to announce this week’s give away- a FREE bridal shower cake from Sugar and Spice Cakery!

There’s nothing better than sitting down to a perfectly delicious plate of food- especially in the beautiful atmosphere of a wedding.  Ogden’s Sugar and Spice Cakery is here to help every occasion become a special one with their incredible selection of catered delights.

Though they’re available to cater any event, this Utah bakery has a fantastic selection of wedding cakes and a catering menu that they can customize to your needs.  They are passionate about giving their customers that extra care that you’ll definitely appreciate when planning a large event.

Sugar & Spice Cakery’s  wedding consultants are available to assist you all along the way and with all the details you’ll need to think of from menu presentation to presentation to clean up.  Consultations are free so schedule your appointment today!

To enter our drawing for a FREE bridal shower cake, just leave a comment on this post!  The lucky winner will be drawn on Saturday, June 20th.

For those of you who love scrap booking or are looking for a way to cut some costs with DIY projects, Archiver’s is offering a FREE Bridal Showcase class.  Archivers is a fantastic photo memory story specializing in scrap booking but offering just about everything you need for paper crafts.  Their Bridal Showcase class will teach you how to make your wedding truly yours with dozens of ideas for handmade invitations, save-the-date cards, programs, and other accessories. You’ll discover how a few handmade touches go a long way to make your wedding one-of-a-kind and special. They’ll walk you through the steps you need to take and what you need to think about, plus surround you with lots and lots of inspiration.

For class times and locations visit Archiversonline.com

Many of you might have noticed a new Kiosk while strolling through the University Mall in Orem.  I know it certainly caught my eye with is beautiful colors and perfectly designed stationary.   I went right over and talked with a sales representative and I just loved everything I heard!  Here’s how they work-

All the stationary at A La Card is designed by a professional designer, printed on high quality paper and sent to their location with everything except your specific wording.  All you have to do is go to their location and pick out your favorite design (that would probably be the hardest part for me- there are so many to choose!)  and fill out a form with the exact wording you’d like on your invitation so they can personalize your cards just the way you’d like them.

This process allows them to give you great prices on your invitations (see below) and get them back to you in almost no time at all. (often times they can get them to you later that same day!)  It’s the perfect solution for those of you with a short engagement or even those who just want to get things done so you can enjoy being engaged.

They currently offer flat 5×7 cards, note cards and Gate Fold cards (a card that opens up to see the wording).  I love the option of adding the exact words you like.  This this flexibility you could easily make your wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations and thank you cards coordinate.  Their flat cards could also easily be used for menus for a dinner reception and their folded note cards could be printed with different names and used as place cards at each place setting.

They’re currently located only in the Orem Mall, but it is definitely worth a drive if you’re coming from a surrounding area.  If you have any questions you can contact their store by calling 801.830.2457 or emailing ordersalacard@gmail.com

Here are some of their current prices-

Flat cards (including the envelope!):$.60-$.80/invitation (depending on the amount ordered)

Folded Gate Cards (including envelopes): $1.40-$1.20/invitation (depending on the amount ordered)

return address on your envelope: $.20 each

Alright all you Northern Utah brides- you’re the lucky ones today!  I’ve recently been speaking with the owner of the Sugar and Spice Cakery located in Ogden, Utah.  This bakery has an amazing assortment of cakes from your traditional, formal white tiered cake all the way to a casual and cute cupcake wedding cake.

The best part about this bakery their understanding of current economic hard times.  While speaking with the owner of the baker, she mentioned her desire to help brides get the wedding of their dreams despite the hard times.  To start, she worked to create a $99 cake deal, where you can go and work with her to create a beautiful wedding cake for just $99!  She has also lowered her price per serving from $3.25 to $1.99 for those of you who would like something larger than she can offer for the $99 deal.  (this deal that has not even made it to her website yet so you are all the first to know!)

Another little bonus that I just love is their consultation plan.  Not only can you schedule a complimentary consultation and cake sampling (cake sampling was my favorite thing when I planned my wedding!  And a great thing to bring your fiance to, even if he’s not too into wedding planning.  Who wouldn’t love to try a bunch of different kinds of cake?) but if you travel to their bakery on the Frontrunner they will even reimburse you for your ticket!

The Inn on the Creek is located in historic Midway, Utah,which was founded by Swiss Pioneers in the early 1800’s. It is  nestled in the foothills beneath the awesome Wasatch Mountain Range and only 15 minutes to historic Park City,home of the 2002 Winter Olympics and only 45 minutes to Salt Lake City.

It is surrounded by golf course fairways, streams, ponds, marshland, and wildlife. It is the ultimate escape  for romance and relaxation.

We have featured the Inn on the Creek quite often lately- but we have one more great give-away for you!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you will be entered into a drawing for a gift certificate for 50% off a one night stay at this beautiful Inn!  Their bed and breakfast rooms currently start at $129- so you could be staying there for just $65!  They even have a honeymoon suite that includes your own sitting area, fire place and even a skylight window above your jetted tub.   With this certificate you could stay in that amazing room for just $80 for the night.

Be sure to leave a comment!  Winners will be drawn on Saturday, June 13 and will be contacted through email.

Another great wedding photographer find!  Melissa studied photography with the New York Institute of Photography and has been taking pictures since 2003.  Her website is full of amazing pictures that are full of color and romance.

Her current prices are very reasonable- $400 for coverage of your reception, $200 for a pre-wedding shoot with you and your fiance before the big day (a great idea by the way!  Why waste your whole day stressing about pictures when you could get it done another day!).  A CD with all the images is also available for an extra fee.

I recently spoke with a representative from the Inn on the Creek resort who told me some exciting news.  They have been worried that, because of the recent economic events, brides have been forced to tighten their wedding budgets more and more.  To help lighten the load and still allow you to find a beautiful, memorable location for your wedding reception the Inn on the Creek has placed a summer discount on all their rooms.  From now until September  ‘09 you can save up to 40% on their facility rentals!

Just as a reminder, their rooms are currently starting at $1000 which includes all the tables, chairs and linens.  They even allow you to bring in your own caterer so you can save a little money that way as well.

There aren’t too many places that have discounted rates for summer weddings so be sure to check this place out!

Thank you cards can cost a fortune, but they’re just something that you have to do after your wedding.  To help soften the financial blow of purchasing hundreds of cards after you’ve taken your vows, we’re featuring eight thank you card designs that you can download for FREE and print from your own computer!  Then all you have to pay for is the ink and paper.  Here’s some printing info you’ll need-

-Card designs are set up to print on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper.  The cards will print two to a page, simply cut the page in half  (no trimming around the edges necessary!)

-For best printing results, use a smooth white or cream colored card stock paper.  The all black designs are the exception to this rule.  They were designed to be printed on a smooth colored paper of your choice so you can be sure to find something in your wedding color!

-Cards will fit into an A2 sized envelope. (4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″)

-All featured designs are property of Jessica George Design and can not be changed.  They may be used for personal use only.

-To download the design of your choice, simply click on the link below the picture.

Retro Flower Stationary

Pink Flower Thank You

Pink Argyle Thank You

Green and Fresh Thank You

Brown Traditional Thank You

Blue Paisley Thank You

Black Lace Thank You

Black Argyle Thank You

Your honeymoon is more than just a vacation together.  It’s the beginning of your marriage.  I fully believe that people should take full advantage of this time together!  Do something you’ll love and remember for the rest of your lives.

Along with that belief comes my very strong opinion to stay somewhere close by on the night of your wedding.  If you want to travel for your honeymoon that’s great- but start the day after!  You wedding day will be so full that a long car ride or plane ride will not be your best company the night after everything is over.

In that theme, I like to write about the Hines Mansion bed and breakfast.  This beautiful B&B is located in downtown Provo, so close to where so many Utah receptions are held.  They’ve taken an old mansion and decorated the whole place with antique looking furniture to make sure you look feel you’ve walked right into that old, romantic era.

When you walk into your room, you’ll find a bottle of sparkling cider placed on ice ready for your enjoyment. Your room is complete with it’s own private bath, a two-person jetted tub, and comfortable robes for the guests.  If you venture downstairs you’ll find cakes, cookies or fruit for you to snack on along with a video and game library just in case.  The next morning you’re greeted with a full, hot breakfast.

For your honeymoon stay, you can add something a little extra to your stay at the Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast.  Their staff can provide a bouquet of fresh flowers to be sent to your room or a special treat of strawberries and cream or a cheese and cracker platter to be waiting for you when you arrive (a nice snack when you’ve been dancing the night away!).  They can even take you on a ride in a horse drawn carriage-either for fun, or if your reception in local they’ll even come pick you up and bring your to your room!

The flowers at your wedding can really set the stage if you let them.  A perfectly planned centerpiece can make your reception look more romantic, classic or even whimsical.  It all just depends on what you’re going for.

I’ve recently run across a group of flowers each with distinct personality.  They’re always in season, come in any color you can imagine and can cost literally just pennies a piece.  These flowers, made of either fabric or paper, are anything but ordinary.  I love the color and style that come from each one.

You might be wondering who in the world would have fake flowers at their wedding- especially fake flowers that they made themselves!  I know what you mean.  Certainly these flowers can’t be considered a replacement for the naturally grown plants they were modeled after.  That is, in fact, the exactly reason why I love them so much!  These flowers are not trying to be real.  You look at them and automatically know that they’re not the real thing- everyone knows there’s no such thing as a pin-striped rose after all!  Instead of trying to be real, they try to bring in a specific style to a reception.  And, quite frankly, they do it very well.

This flower collection can be found in the project section of marthastewart.com . Along with photos of all their amazing ideas, you’ll also find step by step instructions on how to create each flower yourself.

Squawkbox Sound is a DJ and sound services company located in Salt Lake City Utah.  While they provide sound equipment for a variety of events, they specialize in weddings.

They have all the equipment necessary to make your wedding one to remember, including speakers, microphones, a digital recorder to record the audio of your ceremony, a mixing board, and lapel microphones for your officiator. In addition, they have the capability to connect iPods, MP3 players, laptops, keyboards, etc. into our system to enhance your wedding ceremony!

The best part of this business is the service.  They work with you before your wedding day to make sure the event is customized to be EXACTLY how you want it!

To prove to you how much they care about their customer’s opinions, they’ve offered to give one of our lucky Affordable Utah Wedding readers a FREE Wedding Music Planner Packet! It includes all the information you need to create the perfect atmosphere for your big day.

To enter the drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post!  A winner will be drawn at random on Saturday, May 30, 2009.

Wow.  These guys do everything!  From bridal gowns to decoration rental, floral arrangements (both silk and real) to tuxedos- Sophia’s Special Occasions have really worked to give you a one stop wedding planning center.  What they don’t have directly, they can obtain through their partner companies.  (wedding cakes for example)

You have to go to their store to get a price quote on their decoration rentals, but they do mention on their website that they price match- so you’re bound to get at least as good of a deal here as you would anywhere else.

I also love that their store is for all sorts of occasions, not just weddings.  That allows you to get a wider variety of products at one location.  My personal favorite items that they rent are cotton candy machines, popcorn poppers and inflatable jumping area for kids.  I know these aren’t exactly your typical wedding rental ideas- but how fun would it be to have a kids corner or room where kids can go play while their parents enjoy your reception?  Or if you’re looking for to create a fun atmosphere at your reception, bring the cotton candy machine in and serve it made up in your wedding colors.  (maybe wait to bring it out until later in the evening while people are dancing)

I don’ t know about you, but  I’d sure have fun at a reception like that!

This week’s featured wedding service is Jessica George Design.  Here’s a little more about Jessica-

I grew up in Ohio, but came to Utah to get my degree in design.  I’d always loved making things beautiful, but I had no idea how much I’d really love learning each step and rule that comes with creating something to look perfect.

I started designing wedding invitations while I was still in school.  At first I just did it for a few friends, and then friends of friends.  After a while it just seemed natural to open a little business and follow my dream.  I love working from home and keeping my business small so that I can get to know each of my clients and learn exactly what their style is so I can create something they truly love.  One of the best compliments I can receive is when I hear that one of my previous client has recommended my work to a friend.

Most of my personal inspiration comes from searching out the styles in antique fabrics.  I think some of the things I’ve found in my grandma’s closet are the prettiest things in the world!  When I design for other people, my favorite part is right when I meet them and I get to see what kind of personality they have and what style of design would make them the happiest.  I love the difference in perspective that comes with each new client and I love the challenge each personality brings.

Congratulations Becca for winning this week’s drawing!

Come back next week for another FREE wedding offer!

I’m always on the lookout for modest dresses that can be used for bridesmaid’s dresses.  After all, there’s nothing worse than finding a dress you love and then having to think of some way to make some sleeves or add a couple inches to the skirt without ruining the overall look of the dress!

I just found another great modest clothing company that offers a line of completely modest dresses.   You can see their dresses at www.sweetinnocencedresses.com.  Their prices are reasonable and they do have a clearance section that you can keep your eye on!

I love the front page of this company’s website.  The first sentence says it all- “No white plastic columns here!”.  They go on to explain how their wedding decor company is determined to get brides modern style on your big day.

Embellish the Moment is based out of Box Elder County, Utah and run by a mother/daughter team.  Their company began after they’d helped family and close friends coordinate weddings.  After searching for a company that offered decorations with an up to date style, these woman finally ended up having to collect their own items.  After a while their number wedding decorations grew and they decided to share it with other!

Their rental packages currently start at $225.  Click here to check out their entire gallery.

I just saw the greatest idea on the Studio 5 website.  A bouquet of taffy kabobs.  The example shown above is for a baby shower, but I think this could translate into a great wedding idea. Just find a bunch of taffy in your wedding colors and be big, beautiful vase and you’re set.  Here are the instructions as found on their website-

Ingredients you’ll need:
-Skewers
-Taffy in colors to fit your theme (you can buy this in bulk from most grocery stores)
-Ribbon
-Charms (if desired, but they’d be cute without them too)
-Floral foam for bottom of container
-Container (they used a Paper Mache bag decorated with patterned papers and diecuts- I think a big vase would be pretty at a reception)

Instructions:

1. Slide 6 pieces of taffy onto each skewer, alternating colors as desired. If skewer seems unstable or flimsy, slide a second skewer up through bottom of taffy.
2. Tie a ribbon with a charm to fit your theme at the bottom of each taffy kabob.
3. Decorate your container as desired. Place floral foam in bottom of container. Stick kabobs into container.
4. Leave container by the door so guests can grab a treat as they exit.