Even though I don't want to admit it, the winter season is quickly approaching. But, I'm not ready to abandon fall just yet, so I wanted to share with you some wonderful easy centerpiece ideas for those of you that might still be planning fall events. These ideas from Better Homes and Gardens are even perfect for Thanksgiving too.
Image Credits {to see all 22 fall/thanksgiving centerpiece ideas, please click here}
Autumn Roses, White Pumpkins, Bouquet in Wooden Ice Bucket, Mini Pumpkins on Serving Tray

PS: coming up in a bit is an absolutely amazing bridal fashion shoot you won't want to miss

Invitations are an important part of the wedding as they are usually the first impression your guests will have of your big day. However, in today's economy, instead of hiring a professional printer, many couples are looking for a less expensive option. At Daisy Days, you will find a terrific line of beautiful printable wedding invitations, perfect for the do-it-yourself or budget-conscious bride. With Daisy Days' easy-to-use templates, you can create a completely custom or classic look for your wedding without spending a fortune. Along with the Save the Date Magnet DIY Printable Kit, the most popular styles from Daisy Days can be seen below.
As Shown Above:
Laura Ashley Tangerine & Pink DIY Invitation Kit, Chocolate Brown & Pink DIY Printable Wedding Invitation Kit, DIY Ivory & Chocolate Brown Pocket Wedding Invitation Kit, Green Floral Wedding Invitation Kit w/ Sleeves

Ranging in styles from classic pearl borders to colorful, pocket-fold invitations, the DIY printable invitations from Daisy Days are the perfect choice for your wedding invitations.

When I came across this Fall Party from Courtney Toney of Joyful Weddings and Events {a boutique event planning firm out of Orange County and San Diego}, I knew I had to ask if I could share it with my readers. Thank you Courtney :) While this is a seasonal party, there are so many ideas that can be incorporated into any fall wedding event, whether it's the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or the wedding itself. {photos by Jenetta Lea Penner}

Courtney found a few fabrics that she loved and built much of her design around that. Including this banner and the wrappings around the floral vases which you'll see next.

All of the flowers were from her local Farmer's Market. For a rustic feel, Courtney incorporated mason jars, twine, bundles of sticks tied with fabric and organic feeling flowers.

Love this!!! Courtney used her vintage ironing board as the dessert station and she placed candy corn and pumpkins in mini cupcake cups. Along with leaf shaped sugar cookies, the menu included: cheese and crackers, risotto, salad, bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, homemade whipped cream and homemade apple cider.

To see more photos from Courtney's Fall Party 2009, please click here
To find out more about Courtney and Joyful Weddings and Events, please visit her web site and blog.

Today's "This and That..." starts off with a truly amazing DIY project post from Eat Drink Chic - it's a DIY Ice-Cream Parlour - a buffet where you can make your own sundaes. This is so perfect for bridal showers, weddings, or any type of party. To see many more beautiful photos and how to achieve this sundae buffet, please click here.
above photo from Eat Drink Chic

And, here's another weekly list of wedding sales, discounts, giveaways, and tidbits. Please be sure to come back to see the Eye Candy Friday that will be coming up later this morning, it's a Real Wedding :) 

Wedding Giveaways

PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com's $2500 Jewelry Rental Giveaway
Giving away a $2500 fine jewelry rental from Adorn Brides. With it, the winner will be able to rent from an amazing array of fine jewelry for her wedding day. Contest ends on October 31, 2009. Full contest details can be found here

Wedding Tidbits

The Los Angeles Wedding Salon will take place on September 14, 2009. Meet with celebrity wedding planners and vendors as they reveal the ultimate "Do-It-Yourself" secrets - for more information and details on how to receive your free tickets to the event, please click here

Valspar Paint launches new site at valspar-loveourstyle.com, where newlyweds can learn how to merge their styles when thinking about decorating a home or apartment, shortly after getting married. The site features:
1. a quiz to help couples find their common style
2. Painting 101 guide color advice
3. a Photo contest where participants have the chance to win a free color/decorative painting makeover from Valspar Paint and their color consultants, the Beehive Studios

to see more wedding tidbits from last week, please click here

Wedding Sales

The Wedding Outlet's Labor Day Sale
{ends September 8, 2009}
10% off your entire order with coupon code FallinLove

Navy & Lavender
{ends September 14, 2009}
15% off with coupon code: N&LFall09

Celebration Plates
{ends September 15, 2009}
Readers of Brenda's Wedding Blog can receive $10 off any Standard Signature Plate (not custom) with coupon code C60

Just Wright Boutique
{ends September 15, 2009}
Readers of Brenda's Wedding Blog can receive $5 off their purchase of a Celebration Wedding Ring Bowl™ with coupon code J68

Coren Moore's Fall Promo
Receive 15% off all bridesmaid dresses when ordered between now and October 30th. All Fall Promo orders will ship on February 1, so this is ideal for weddings anytime after March 1, 2010.

WeddingDNA.com is a great resource for the DIY Bride. They offer simple pre-designed templates for Wedding Programs, DIY Wedding Invitations and Bridal Shower Invitations. Or, you can use the graphics available at WeddingDNA.com and either download the images directly to your computer for your own custom creations {available in vector, jpg, png, word formats}, or you can bring them right into the WeddingDNA Design Center and create your invitation right online. I've tried out the design center and it's amazingly easy to use and you can change the graphics at anytime you'd like and placing text {in your choice of font too} on the page is super easy and fast. And, being a graphic designer, I'm thinking it's even better than using the design programs that I've grown to love. The Design Center just makes it so much more user friendly.
You can try WeddingDNA.com for free and receive 2 free downloads of your choice. If you love the site, you'll be automatically upgraded to unlimited access after 7 days or you can join instantly and receive 15% off unlimited access for a year at only $2.83 per month.

WeddingDNA.com originally started in 2003 as a DIY resource for brides offering vector-based graphics. Since then it's grown to offer templates for invitations, programs, multimedia presentations, scrapbooking and more. Has anybody used WeddingDNA.com? If you have, I would love to know what you think of it. The above designs are just some of the many pre-designed templates that are available.