Effective Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

Congratulations. You're getting married. Now you know you have been dreaming about all of this for quite some time. You know you have the perfect linen picked out in your mind. You have pictured the most incredible floral arrangements for years. You have THE best band already pre-chosen. Now how do you pay for it?


While we do fantasy/fairy tale dream weddings all the time, I find one of the more endearing parts of my job is to allow a bride to figure a way to get her dream idea delivered at a cost she can afford. Let's face it, not everyone has ann unlimited budget. Especially in these economic times. I find more and more couples are on a very strict budget. 


I have formulated some great ways for you to save and not diminish your overall event.

Save on Postage for Save The Dates:

 I know you have the cute magnet in your head. People love doing it. However, you might consider instead of going to the expense of a printed save the date where you pay for the actual invite, envelope, and stamp, creating a save the date video that you email to all of your guests. This is a really fun way of showing your personality as a couple to your guests in advance. You can shoot it for free on your smart phone and edit it in a program like final cut pro.

 Everyone's Pictures:

 It is no big secret that wedding photographers can be expensive! They can be down right crazy expensive. Here is an interesting way to save some money. You’re hiring a photographer because you want to capture beautiful images of yourselves and not so much of other guests (it’s okay to admit it!), hire them for the pre-wedding and ceremony images only. Releasing your photographer before the reception can save you hundreds of dollars, and there’s an easy way to capture memorable, candid images for free. Set up a shared Flickr account so that guests can upload the photos and videos they captured at your event. If you like the popular reception photo booth, create the same experience (for free) by streaming the Flickr images live onto the wall during the reception, using a projector. Guests will get a kick out of the “real-time” nature of the photo show, and your army of shutterbugs will stay motivated to keep snapping images.

Signature Drink VS Full Bar:

 Again, it is no secret that over 51% of your entire budget of your wedding goes towards your reception. Here is an easy way to save money. Instead of a full bar which can run between $30.00-$45.00 per person, offer your guests craft beer, a nice choice of wine and a signature drink. This can, in times, cut your budget for the bar in well over half!

 Stay in One Place:

 Often times church rentals can run into the  several thousands of dollars once you have paid everyone. Find a venue that is beautiful that you can do the ceremony and reception together. This saves on decor, staffing, and so much more.

Students Perform:

 I have been blessed with both of our business locations that we have access to BRILLIANT  school aged kids that play classical music extraordinarily well. It comes as no surprise that ceremony musicians that are professional  come with a professional rate charge. Find the School of the Arts in your city and ask for some extra talented kids. This will not only create an unforgettable experience for your guests, but will also save you so much money.

There are so many ways to get creative and save if you need to for your wedding. You can always count on us to offer the most cutting edge and savvy cost saving methods for you.

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Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!! Lawson's Mardi Gras Dinner

I have not been able to splurge very much lately with the new diet. However, everyone has to enjoy the decadence that is Mardi Gras! A friend of mind posted on her Facebook wall the other day about what should she make for dinner on Fat Tuesday? I immediately got to thinking about how I could do a little twist on some cajun cooking. Here is what's for dinner tonight:

Cajun Shrimp Hushpuppies with a Green Tabasco Cream Sauce for dipping

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 3/4 cup self-rising flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 small onion, grated
• 1/4 cup chives, chopped
• 1/2 pound cooked shrimp, cleaned and tails removed, chopped
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• Peanut oil, for frying

Preheat oil in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Drop heaping tablespoon-sized amounts of the mixture into the hot oil. Fry in batches for 2 to 3 minutes each. Remove from the oil to paper towels to drain and season immediately with salt and pepper Transfer to a serving platter or bowl and serve with the onion dip.

Green Tabasco Cream Sauce

1 cup whole cream

1/4 cup green tabasco

1 shallot thinly diced

1 garlic clove thinly diced

salt and papper to taste

combine all ingredients in sauce pan and let reduce by 50% cool and serve.

Stuffed Breast of Chicken with Pepper Jack, Boursin and Country Ham with Habanero Hollandaise

4 boneless breast of chicken

1 block of pepper jack cheese

1 container of herb boursin cheese

1/4 pound of country  ham

flatten out chicken breast and place country ham first spread boursin on top then thinly slice the pepper jack cheese. roll together and fasten with 2 or 3 toothpicks. Bake in oven at 375 degrees  for 25-30 minutes.

• Habanero Hollandaise
• 
  
• 4 egg yolks
• 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 pinch ground white pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 habanero pepper finely diced.
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Fill the bottom of a double boiler part-way with water. Make sure that water does not touch the top pan. Bring water to a gentle simmer. In the top of the double boiler, whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, white pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon water.
2. Add the melted butter to egg yolk mixture 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time while whisking yolks constantly. add in diced pepper. If hollandaise begins to get too thick, add a teaspoon or two of hot water. Continue whisking until all butter is incorporated. Whisk in salt, then remove from heat. Place a lid on pan to keep sauce warm until ready to serve.

Blackened Asparagus:

1 lb fresh asparagus spears, trimmed

4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tbsp ground cumin 1/2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped 1/4 tbsp crushed red pepper 2 tbsp olive oil Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic; saute for 1 minute. Add asparagus spears; stir to coat with olive oil. Continue to stir fry for 7 minutes. Add cumin, basil, and crushed red pepper; stir fry for an additional minute.

Bayou Wild Rice:

• cooking spray
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup uncooked wild rice
• 3/4 cup uncooked brown rice
• 6 green onions, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
• 1 (2.25 ounce) package slivered almonds
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef consomme

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 2 quart stove top and oven-safe baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Melt butter in the baking dish over medium heat. Stir in the wild rice and brown rice. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Stir in the onions; cook for 5 additional minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the mushrooms and almonds. Pour onion soup and consomme over the rice mixture. Cover with lid or aluminum foil that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Bake until rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir before serving.

Home Made Bananas Foster:

• 
  
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 1/2 tablespoons rum
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream

Directions

In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon. When mixture begins to bubble, place bananas and walnuts in pan. Cook until bananas are hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve at once over vanilla ice cream.

Now, I will not tell you this is entirely healthy! Actually, it is quite the opposite and decadent. However, 

this  will certainly be a crowd pleaser! Bon Appetite and Happy Mardi Gras!

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Mi Amore. . Let Me Cook For You!

I heard an interesting quote the other day. "When someone brings you into their own kitchen and cooks for you, that is the absolute pinnacle of giving oneself to another." I was absolutely inspired by that quote. I got to thinking and I realized that is so true. I put together a recipe that should be fun for you to try and oh so delicious! Happy Valentine's Day to you.

Sea Bass Amore

2  8oz filets of Sea Bass

¾ cup of julienned mixed peppers (red, orange yellow)

¼ cup of artichoke hearts ( quartered)

6 tablespoons of irish butter

¼ cup white wine

1 lemon quartered and seeded

2 sprigs of  thyme

2 cups of  baby spinach

6 red potatoes quartered

1/8 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450

-Boil potatoes til tender  mash with 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/8 cup of heavy cream set aside keep warm

Sauté peppers with 1 tablespoon of butter til tender, add artichokes and 1 tablespoon of butter.  Set aside

In same pan add ½ tablespoon of butter and sear Sea Bass to a light golden color deglaze pan with 1/8 cup of white wine add peppers and artichokes , ½ table spoon of butter , thyme and lemons and put in oven til almost cooked .  Remove place back over burner add spinach , remaining wine and cover to simmer and wilt spinach remove cover, set fish aside to rest  add 1 table spoon of butter and tighten sauce remove lemons .

Plate with potatoes nestled next to spinach with fish resting on both  , peppers and artichokes over top of fish with sauce drizzled over to finish

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8 Creative Valentines

It's Valentine's day and you've been racking your brain as to how you can be romantic without being cheesy?

 I mean let's face it, there is a very fine line. Here are some fun ideas to keep it cool and romantic all at the same time.

Sometimes it really is the little things that add up to be the sweetest.

                                               Gift wrap a wishbone in a jewelry box.
                                               Send it to her with a note that says,
                                                     "I wish you were here."

                                                              Unplug the TV.
                                                       Put a note on the screen saying,
                                                            "Turn me on instead."

                                                  Go through revolving doors together.

                                                         Write him a little love note.

                                               Insert it into the book he's reading.

Greet her at the door with one single red rose and a bottle of champagne as opposed to just walking in the house or apartment the same old way you always do.

                                 Hire a pianist to accompany your romantic in home dinner

Remember your first date? That date where you knew he or she was the one? Re-create it in your home complete with props, food and wine.

  Remove all the little paper strips that say "kisses" on a couple hundred Hershey's kisses. Fill a little jewelry box with them. Wrap them up and present the box to her with a gift certificate telling he or she that each kiss is redeemable for the real thing whenever they would like.

However, you decide to do it, make sure you be creative. Remember what we say, Candy is not creative. Happy Valentine's day from all of us on the LR team!

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