Okay readers, I’m reaching out one last time for your help on some last minute details on our wedding — which is just a couple weeks away now! This is the barn where we are having the party. I’ve sorted out the linens, the flowers, etc… but I fear something else is missing. What does it need? We have a ton of votives to spread around, which will help, and some twinkle lights. Is there anything else I can do to make it look festive (that wouldn’t cost much or require too much production)? Maybe it’s best kept as is — it is a barn afterall. Please let me know you have any great inspirations on lighting or decorations. I’ll share the results with you all soon! — Angela M.

Okay dear readers, I need some of your decorating savvy! Our wedding is coming up soon (late in Sept) and there are a lot of details yet to sort out. I think I’m stuck on this one, and once this decision is made, the rest will fall into place. Namely: What kind of table linens should we have? Let me paint the scene: Our reception is going to be held in a barn (wood walls, cement floor, very simple and rustic) and we’re going to have four or five round tables for our guests to eat at. In my mind’s eye, I see a pattern on the tables, and would love to make my own. I’d pick a pretty pattern like the Denise Schmidt ones at PurlSoho. The problem is I don’t have the time, the skill or the sewing the machine! I have found a few rental places online that have some creative patterns. Here’s four we are debating now. Thoughts? Other suggestions for fabric or solutions? Your opinions will be greatly appreciated! — Angela M.

1. Forest Plaid: I like how classic this is, charming but not kitschy. Would look great with cream accents, daisies and black-eyed sues on the table.

2. Mod Suede: This is more unexpected and fun. Would be so cheery and yet also fit our overall sensiblility. Perhaps a touch to girly?

3.White Wildflower Sheer: This white on white pattern is so pretty, but we’d have use it as an overlay over another cloth — would that make it look too formal and stiff?

4. Yellow Picnic Check: We’d never go for the cliche of a red-and-white gingham, but this board yellow check could work. I think you could really dress it up while still keeping the country flair.

As Chad and I get ready for our wedding, we keeping stumbling over little decisions. Neither of us have traditional families, so for the most part we are on own in this new terrain. Here’s one we’re we are debating right now that maybe you can help us with: Do we need to have something for our guests to throw at us after we are pronounced husband and wife? Barring bad weather, we’ll hopefully be getting married under a tree, so there won’t be a classic exit. If we were to have something to toss, it would have to be green and okay for critters. Some sites seem to say that “dangers of rice” for birds is just a myth. Others, like ask.yahoo.com suggest sunflowers, birdseed or bubbles. Over at Martha Stewart’s site, she has how-to on making vanishing confetti pouches and suggests biodegradable paper. What do you think? As a guest, is fun to have something to “do” like toss confetti at couple? Maybe some noisemakers would be better? Or should we just skip it and get to the champagne? — Angela M.

With a little more than a month ’til the big day, the wedding basics are pretty much accounted for: Groom, check. Dress, check. Kick ass honeymoon planned to Sweden, check. So for now, it’s the small things that need tending to and in the end I hope the details will make all the difference.

Detail #1: Vintage Typewriter Guestbook

Ripped shamelessly from the DIY diva herself, the typewriter guestbook (suggested by Erica P.) combines the guestbook tradition with a fun aesthetic. Leave a typewriter — I’m looking out for a vintage Underwood – instead of a guestbook at the reception’s entrance.

Detail #2: Chill Out

Our ceremony will be outside. In Chicago. In August. To keep people from passing out, we thought making fans out of our programs, like these. But now we’re wondering if there’s a way to make them ourselves.

Any other suggestions for small details that could really make the whole night stand out? — Ashley P.

As Chad & I begin planning our BIG DAY, one thing is very clear: We are not traditionalists. We cannot — and have no desire to — have a typical American wedding that costs somewhere around $30k (um, that’s the cost of a downpayment on a house!). We have very small families, many close friends, and a limited budget. Still, we want our day to be special, sincere and most of all, fun. Starting what will surely be on our long list of D.I.Y. touches, we’re going to skip the pricey invitations. We want something less formal, something that we can customize ourselves. These Kate Spade Printable Invitations seem just about perfect. They have a gorgeous branch design on one side, and the come with thick, rich, green-lined envelopes. They’re just the thing to jumpstart our “country” themed wedding. We’ve already ordered one batch and have done some testing on our printer. It’s super easy to create a template with the font of your choice (Copperplate looks great). They cost $25 for ten — far less these engraved bough invitations, $456 for 50, which are similar. Plus, without all those extra bits of paper — RSVP cards and such — we’re being more eco-friendly. It’s a win win! — Angela M.

Some people will tell you that registering for gifts is one of the best things about a wedding. “It’s like shopping for really nice things, except you don’t have to pay for it!” Those people are liars. I mean, do we really need a $2700 Tiffany vase? Wading through a store’s home décor web site with a fiancé whose idea of style is a Guinness pint class is beyond torture. But the hardest part of the process is finding that site in the first place and once you’ve picked it, then what? We’re so overwhelmed with shopping choices, we don’t even know where to begin. Target or Crate and Barrel? KitchenAid mixer or swanky slotted spoon? Add the small spaces of New York apartments to the mix and you’ve got a minor wedding crisis on your hands.

So Shelterrific readers, where should we register? And what should we ask for? — Ashley P.

When my fiance and I started poking around for all the accoutrements needed to throw a rockin’ wedding – from flowers to reception spots – everything seemed so, well, frilly. We were going for something cleaner, more modern and perhaps less puffy than my traditional Southern parents were hoping for. Luckily, when it came to invitations, we found a way to incorporate that very design sensibility into our big day: mygatsby.com. True, the site does carry readymade templates from Anna Griffin and Paper Prince, but customers can also design their own save-the-date cards (or backyard barbecue invites, birth announcements and even stationary) with customizable colors and fonts from scratch. No matter what your style is, it’s a perfect option for creative folks willing to put in a little time for the perfect look, while saving cash in the process. The site can even send you supplies for printing out your invites, if you’re so inclined. So what did we end up with? See for yourself. And if you don’t like them, no worries. I love them and they’re all mine. – Ashley P