To get to the aisle takes blood sweat and tears

DIY isn't for the faint of heart. We're trying to be as conservative as possible with our wedding, but what they don't tell you is if you aren't careful, DIY can turn into a more expensive or stressful venture than the original possible option. I'm making the bouquets for the bridesmaids, my man of honor's boutineer, my veil and hairpiece and we recently started a venture to make the decorations for the chapel.

We're using the same method that N and his coworkers used for their model dress for the charity event - dying coffee filters. N wants to have something hang off the pews - and we didn't budget for that. The church itself is gorgeous, and doesn't need a lot of decorations:




We have concerns, however, about how the alter area will look. My plan is to close the back curtains over the cross area, and the rest of the stage, while gorgeous, is large and bare. N's mother has offered to purchase a flower arrangement, but while I'm incredibly grateful, I'm so picky (along with N) about flowers. To quote the movie on USA earlier, "Jose, I love you, but if you use another carnation in my arrangements, I will deport you." We hate carnations.

So far, the process for pew decorations however, is moving along. I have full trust that N has a picture in his head, I just don't know what it is. At the moment I'm starting the dying process while he's out running errands and golfing while I'm home on duty. Might as well be productive on something.

Step 1: Gather your supplies:


Coffee filters, your kool-aid color of choice and a bowl for dying the filters. N had actually prepared a large trash can for this, which I was unaware of when I took this picture, so I didn't actually use this bowl. Not pictured in this image is a shower curtain, which will show up in step 3.

Step 2: Put water in your container:


I put about a gallon of water in the bottom of this can; you really don't want too much water. After I poured the water in, I added four packets of kool aid, and then put in 30 coffee filters. I then let them sit for about 30 minutes.

Step 3:

Time to dry!


The 'dots' as I'm calling them are drying on top of a clear shower curtain on the bed in our guest bedroom. Some of them are stuck together, which is why there are only 20 pictured when I put 30 in the can. As they dry, they separate as well as fade. The next steps will be up to N. More updates as I have them.

I'm still working on my veil, and still debating about putting up pictures. I'm working on it in the apartment with N around, but he's been graciously paying as little attention as possible - he knows how I feel about traditionally surprising him with everything about my appearance on the day of the wedding.

Back to work! Next post maybe I'll show off my bouquets, I'm ridiculously proud of them.