ever thine, ever mine, ever ours

Wedding Recap: Reception

2010-04-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you still following this blog - I'm sorry! I guess I'm just not that interested in weddings anymore! Ok, that's not entirely true, but I'm definitely not as gung-ho about wedding-ness as I was before our wedding. Although, after two years of being psyched up about weddings, can anyone blame me for taking a break? Well, I'm back with some shots from our reception.

Steve and I checking out the room before everyone was let in. Eek, can you stand that fantastically draped cocktail table?

Our view as we peeked in. It looked much lovelier with the lights dimmed, but the camera flash kind of ruined that effect. :)

A close-up of the flower centerpieces. Mokara orchids submerged in water in a cylinder vase. Yum! Also, you can make out our shotglass favors (the orange cups at each seat) and the placecards. Sadly, the menus didn't show up so well in this photo. But I know they're there!

Umm, a close up of the butter? Hehe, but you can also see the table number in action, so that's cool. :)

A peek at the pink flower centerpiece. Sadly, no pictures of the candles! Well, since I have 13 candle arrangements sitting in our basement, maybe I can dig one up and take a picture of it!

A shot of our pretty rockin' band!

Our first dance - "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra. But wait, it gets fun...

We threw in a few flips and dips and twirls and swirls! I thought it was pretty clever! :)

Clearly, I'd had a few! I'm doing my infamous flippy air guitar (first you strum with the left hand, then you flip it and strum with the right!).

Hehe, Steve was definitely having some fun too!

And finally...because every wedding needs more cowbell...

Ciao,

Wedding Recap: Ceremony

2010-03-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

If you couldn't tell from the title, this post is all about the ceremony.

(Pretty self-explanatory - didn't think you'd need captions.)

Ciao,

Wedding Recap: Boys Getting Ready

2010-03-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, now it's time for some cheesy boy shots. Seriously, our photographer had some really...odd...ideas for the guy shots.

Like, hey...wouldn't it be funny to see the guys pretend to kick the groom in the groin?
But, hey, it's in black & white, so that's automatically classy, right? :)

Well, then there's the ever classic "pretending to shoot dice in the church before the ceremony"...

Aside from these and other ridiculous shots, they did manage to get some nice pictures in too...

Ciao,

Wedding Recap: Girls Getting Ready

2010-03-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

Now that we've finally gotten back all of our wedding photos, I thought I'd share! You didn't think I'd leave you hanging after all this time, did you? First up - the girls getting ready!

Getting my bling on! There was one strand that was too long, so our florist helped me shorten it up a little. Good thing I was wearing my hair down to cover up her crafty use of wire!

Oodles of pearls - just the way I like it!

Bridezilla making sure the sashes are tied juuust right...

It's a lot tougher than it seems to tie the knot! (Haha, wedding pun!)

Well, now don't we look nice!

Ciao,

We Did It!

2010-01-28T21:29:00.000-08:00

We're married!

It was everything I ever thought it would be, and so much more!

The day was simply flawless.

Here are a few pics from our photographer friend (be sure to click to enlarge)...

Our beautiful church...

the inside (including the phenomenal crucifix above the altar!)...

Getting my bling on....

Steve watching me strut down the aisle...

Husband and wife...

Ciao,

Cake Cutting Tool

2010-01-01T16:16:00.000-08:00

So, I think it's pretty safe to assume that our wedding style is "punched up traditional". Sure, we'll have elegant, traditional invitations, but we jazzed them up with our bright color palette and little animals for the food choices...

(I forgot I'd never shared the guts of our invitations!)

And of course we'll be doing a "first dance" to a classic like "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra, but we're adding in a few moves of our own to spice things up! Our guestbook is not your traditional bound guestbook, but in fact a guest book box with cute little notecard inserts like this...

(Another item I haven't revealed yet, mostly because I can't find my camera...)

So, naturally, we couldn't just settle on a traditional cake serving set! They were all far too boring or cutesy or fancy. See what I mean...

And, honestly, when would I ever use them again? So, while on a recent re-registering trip to Target, we purchased the pink santoku knife that I've been eying up for months...

Is it not the most perfect pink knife ever? Plus, it gets bonus points for doing double duty - cake cutter and server! LOVE!

Ciao,

Unfathomable Numbers

2009-12-28T17:31:00.000-08:00

When you hear that someone has embezzled over $20 million, you probably shake your head, say something like "dang!", and go on with your business. And, sure, you may know that dinosaurs ruled the earth over 230 million years ago, but have you taken the time to contemplate how long that really is?

My point is, there comes a point when we no longer comprehend what a number really means. And for me, that number is 19...

Nineteen days to finish whittling down my centerpiece candles.
Nineteen days to add a hook and eye enclosure to my dress.
Nineteen days to meet with our florist, priest, and contact at the reception hall.
Nineteen days to buy our flower girl a tiara.
Nineteen days to get our marriage license.
Nineteen days to finalize our guest count and make a seating chart.

It doesn't sound like a lot. I mean, each task in and of itself is pretty simple and shouldn't take a full 19 days to complete. But it's not just about finishing these menial tasks. It's about the fact that our wedding is 19 days away! That's less than three weeks! Now that's pretty unfathomable!

Ciao,

A Woman's Right to Shoes

2009-12-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, I bought a new pair of shoes for my wedding.

"I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes."

-Carrie Bradshaw (and me)

Ciao,

If Only We Were Having a Christmas-Themed Wedding...

2009-12-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

I've been very adamant from the start - we were NOT going to be having a Christmas-y wedding. Not that Steve had any problems with that, but I had to make it clear to our vendors, church, and reception hall that we wouldn't be doing poinsettias in our bouquets, Christmas trees beside the altar, or red and green decorations in the hall to interfere with our fabulous pink and orange color palette!

This morning, we met with the music director at our church to decide on, well, the music! I was very impressed with his ability to be able to play samples of the tunes without any sheet music. I guess he's been doing it for awhile!

For our processional, we chose the ever classic Pachelbel Canon in D...

But if we were going to do a Christmas-y wedding, we would have totally rocked out to some Trans-Siberian Orchestra...

Ciao,

Mission Abandoned: Floral Favors

2009-11-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read that correctly...mission abandoned!

Well, not completely. Just the flower portion. Someone here ran out of DIY steam. :) But, honestly, they were just too putzy and time-consuming. I'm okay putting that much time into, say, the invitations or the dress, but not into silly little tissue paper flowers!

So, the guests will be getting their ~~Smarties~~ sugar buttons in their pink or orange plastic shot glass, and they'll be happy with it! :)

Ciao,

Mission Accomplished: Flower Girl Dress

2009-11-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

After much procrastinating, we are finally able to check another item off our list...The flower girl dress!

Featuring a tulle skirt and off-white color, our flower girl's dress will be very similar to my gown. However, unlike my dress, hers will sport a hot pink sash! :)

During our visit to David's Bridal, she was absolutely captivated by the tiaras, veils, and miscellaneous headpieces. And who can blame her?
So I guess that means we'll have to get her this tiara for the wedding! :) I think it will make a wonderful wedding-party-gift for her, among other things! :)

Ciao,

Mission Accomplished: Table Numbers

2009-10-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Now that the invitations are nearly complete, I must occupy my time with another project... ...table numbers!

As you may have noticed, this design was also used for our card box. It was adapted from Martha Stewart's table number template. Sure, the border is the same, but the font is different (I used the same Edwardian Script ITC font I used for the Save the Dates, invites, and card box...so far...). Also, Martha's table numbers only went up to 20, and we will have at least 23 tables.

I am excited to see these table numbers in action! I finally plotted out the reception layout, coordinating the colors of the table numbers, menu cards, table runners, and candle/flower centerpieces. Yikes!

Ciao,

Mission Accomplished: Pocketfold Invitations

2009-10-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

Invitation making is in full swing now, and I'm already about halfway through!

I have about three weeks to finish the rest of the invitations, but I hardly think that will be a problem now that I've got my system down! :) Here's a little rundown on my invitation assembly line...

1. Take an 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock (I'd recommend at least 100 lb. cover cardstock for optimal strength) and measure 4" from one side and 2" from the other.

2. Fold the cardstock along the lines you've marked off. (I used this laminated math formula cheat sheet to help me fold in a straight line!)

3. Trim 1.5" from the top of the piece of cardstock. This will create a 5" x 7" invitation when folded (11" x 7" when fully open), which will fit perfectly in an A7 envelope (more on those later).

4. Don't just throw this little strip away though! Trim another 0.5" off of it (so it's 1" thick), and set it aside to use as a belly band for the orange invitations.

5. Next, take another 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock and cut out two 5" x 4.75" pieces. These will be used to make the pocket of the pocketfold invitations. I saved the rest of the cardstock to use for the placecards I will be making later on.

6. The next step is to make the flaps of the pocket so it can be attached to the invitation. So, measure 0.5" from all sides except the top.

7. Then, fold the flaps over where marked. Again, I used my handy-dandy math formula cheat sheet to fold them.

8. To make the corners of the pocket, it's necessary to snip of the excess cardstock. So, fold the corners and snip away!

9. Then, to attach the pocket to the invitation, I used glue dots on the corners and a glue stick on the edges.

Here's what the pocketfold invitation looks like without any of the text or inserts added yet. Pretty fabulous, eh?

10. Next I glue-stuck the invitation and reception cards to the invitation.

11. Then I inserted the direction and response cards into the pocket.

12. For our out-of-town guests, I added a "Travel Information" card. I actually like the look of the invitation with the third card in the pocket, but I figured it was unnecessary for the local guests.

13. Next up were the belly bands! Remember the strip cut off from the top of the invitations? Well, here they are in action! After affixing the monogram with a glue dot, the belly bands were slipped into place.

14. The invitations were then placed in an envelope of the opposite color. Then, envelope wraps were glue-stuck (new favorite verb!) on.

Here's a view of the back of the envelope. That's our return address on the back. :)

15. This is my favorite step - adding the completed invitation to the "done" box! :) I'm trying to keep them separated - the stacks on the left are those with the "travel information" insert and the stacks on the right are those without. I'm not sure if there will be a difference in postage, but it'll be so much easier if there is!

Ciao,

Engagement Photos - Part I

2009-10-21T18:23:00.001-07:00

Well, our engagement photo shoot was a success! Tons of fun, gorgeous scenery, and lots of smiles and laughs! We actually had two photo shoots - one with our photographer and one with my fiance's sister. You see, I really wanted to take some pictures in a downtown setting, but our photographer didn't have enough time to accommodate three locations. So we just asked Steve's sister to help out, and this is what we got...

Overall, I'm happy with our downtown shoot! I love the industrial + downtown chic vibe we got from the fab scenery, which included a rickety, death-defying, abandoned set of railroad tracks. Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and watch! Thank God we made it out alive! :)

Ciao,

Cake Remix

2009-10-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

As you may recall, I had fallen in love with this oversized damask wedding cake...

However, I was a bit hesitant because I didn't want to set myself up for a Cake Wreck! You know, I would show my baker this amazing picture and expect a cake equally exquisite, only to be disappointed on our wedding day to see a topsy-turvy sort of square blobby damask cake. Not that I don't have complete faith in our baker, but you get the picture! Besides, I didn't really like the idea of completely copying another baker's work, even if I did switch up the colors ever so slightly...

But nevermind that because I have thought of a much better idea! Since I'm obviously so in love with my damask stamp, why not incorporate its image into the cake like this...
Okay, it's a little crude, but you get the idea! Pink-tinted frosting, damask images at alternating corners (on the other sides as well), and three white fondant flowers on the top, which I grabbed from an image on our baker's website.

I'm so excited about this design breakthrough! It's much more original than the first design, and I'm much less worried about a possible cake wreck. I think this design is right our baker's alley!

Ciao,

Target Faves

2009-10-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the online portion of our Target registry works, I can showcase some of the fabulous items on that registry!

Michaels Graves Design Automatic Drip Coffeemaker
Steve couldn't make up his mind about the coffeemaker, so I stepped in and picked one out for him! It's cute, programmable, and uses paper filters (Steve's odd prerequisite).

French Silicone Rolling Pin
I've been wanting a french rolling pin for some time, and this one even comes in pink! Doesn't get much better than this!

Closetmaid 9 Cube Organizer
This would make the perfect bookcase for our office! We need a little extra room to store all of our office supplies, books, and, well, just random stuff!

Cero Spa Soap Pump
I saw this and just had to add it to our registry! It comes with a matching toothbrush holder, which we of course scanned as well.

Ciao,

J'Adore Crate & Barrel

2009-09-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have always loved shopping, so it should be no surprise that I've always dreamed of winning a fully-paid shopping spree at one of my favorite stores. Well, today, that dream came true! My fiance and I went registering at our first store - Crate & Barrel.

After perusing their website a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure if registering there would be such a good idea. Many of the items were rather expensive, and I was worried that our guests would opt for the more convenient Target, the other store at which we're registering. However, with the fabulous finds we've unearthed at Crate & Barrel, I'm hoping many of our guests will stop there!

Here are a few of my favorite goodies on our list...

Staxx II Dinnerware
Are these not the most fabulous plates and bowls ever? The plates have a ridge around them (kind of like a cake pan) that is so freaking unique! I've never seen anything like it! The set is stackable, which will help save space in our cabinets for all of the other goodies we loved at Crate & Barrel!

Ollie Wine Glasses
We've registered for the 20 oz glasses (the big round one on the right!). So dramatic, and I adore them!

Wok Set
I'm so excited about this one! Mmm...I can just imagine the Asian delicacies we can make with this set!

Footed Soup Bowl
Ooh, this one is right on the top of my list as well! Who'd have thought soup bowls could be so chic?!?

Rub Away Bar
Boy, I could've used one of these this weekend when I was cooking with garlic and onions! You just wash your hands like it's a bar of soap, and those lingering garlic and onion smells just vanish!

Bexley Throw
Don't worry - we didn't just get stuff for the kitchen. We also registered for this throw blanket which will be perfect for the couch. It even inspired our color palette of teal, chartreuse, black, and cream.

Carmen Chartreuse Pillow
Won't this pillow look fabulous with the teal throw? I love the texture, and it just looks so darn comfy!

Ciao,

Dinner Time!

2009-09-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

I think we've finally settled on our dinner menu for the reception! After such a fantastic food tasting, the decision was not easy! So many questions remained...

Two courses or three? Soup or salad? One entree choice or two?

Well, after much deliberation, here is our final decision...

First Course

Can't go wrong with the ever classic Caesar Salad.

Main Entrees
Chicken Strasbourg - think chicken stuffed with mushrooms and garlic bread, then served over potato puree (fancy for "mashed potatoes") and seasonal veggies.

Grilled Pork Chop and Truffle Mushroom Ragu - perfectly seared pork chop served with pan-roasted mushrooms, chives, veal glace, and truffle oil. Mmm...and don't forget the garlic-parmigiana polenta cake!

Grilled Portabella and Roasted Pepper - a divine vegetarian option with portabella mushroom and pepper served on julienne spinach, goat cheese, tomatoes, crispy leeks, and balsamic glaze. Even for a vegetarian option, this sounds hearty and delicious!

Ciao,

No Barefoot Bridesmaids Here

2009-09-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

The bridesmaids officially have shoes! Well, at least they will, once they order them. But, at least a decision has been made!

Mootsies Tootsies Parable Peeptoe Pumps

At only $39.95, they are relatively affordable and they meet all of my style requirements! Peeptoe, lower heel, and satin material. Oh, and of course, they're black! :)

Ciao,

Another One Bites the Dust

2009-08-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

Off my checklist, that is! We have officially booked our flight to Jamaica for the honeymoon!

I was a little apprehensive about booking the flight earlier this year, hoping that perhaps prices would lower. Silly me! I mean, I know prices generally get much higher the longer you wait, but I assumed they wouldn't really start increasing until a month or two out.

Well, when I checked yesterday, the price of our desired flight went up $20 since I last checked! I know, not horrible, but that certainly meant prices were on the rise! And I didn't want our desired flight to sell out! It was one of the few with decent departure/arrival times and short layovers (you know, under 16 hours...). So,the price increase, along with the gentle reminder on the knot's checklist encouraging me to book our flight, was all I the encouragement I needed!

Now, our next step is getting our passport applications in! We have the photos taken and the forms filled out - now we just have to gather our birth certificates and make photocopies of our driver's licenses. And we have to remember to bring our driver's licenses with us to the post office. And a credit card to process the $100 fee for each of us. I hope I'm not forgetting anything...

Ciao,

The Joys of Shoe Shopping

2009-08-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought finding the perfect black bridesmaid shoe would be so hard?

Too edgy...

Too beachy...

Too fierce...

Though my MOH encountered quite a few duds yesterday, we're trying again on Friday! At least this time we'll have a better idea of what we're looking for!

-Peeptoe
-Satin material
-Lower heel height (you know, maybe something under 4")
-Reasonable price (under $40 would be fab!)

Here are a few options that might meet these requirements...

(don't worry - they come in black!)

(Ok, not satin, but they still look pretty dressy)

(again, they do come in black!)

(Guess what...they come in black too! :) )

So, I guess we have quite a few options that more or less meet our requirements. Now let's just cross our fingers that we can find the winning pair in all three sizes!

Ciao,

80's Chic Rehearsal Dinner

2009-08-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I love clothes! Ooh, and don't even get me started on shoes! So, is it any wonder that the theme for our rehearsal dinner was inspired by a dress?

This dress was completely love at first sight! And at only $29.99, it's a total steal! Gotta love Target!

I'll admit, it looks a little wonky on the model, especially with those tragic shoes, but it looks crazy cute with my pink pumps, patent leather black belt, and layers of pearls!

I'm hoping our guests will get into the theme as well. At the very least, our wedding party will be rockin' some leggings, aviators, moto jackets, or neon colors!

Ciao,

Fun with Monograms

2009-08-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally bought into the monogram trend! I initially thought it was kind of silly since I didn't think I'd have to many places to put one. Well, that was before I figured out I'd need something to connect the ends of our invitation belly bands! So, it was "hello, monogram!"

I was pretty dead set on incorporating our damask theme into the monogram design. So, here are my various iterations of the damask monogram...

The first monogram I came up with mimicked our invitation and save the date design. I like it, but I thought it might be overkill! :) So, then I started playing around with just a single damask image...

Cute, but unfortunately, it's a little too hard to read. :( So, I tired to make the K a little darker...

Uh oh! Still can't read our names so well! And at its final size of 1.5" by 1.5", the text would be positively illegible.

Well, that's better! By flipping the color of the text, the monogram instantly became much more legible! Plus, I like that the pink and orange are both in the background. I can't really explain why, but it seems much more cohesive! :)

Once I figured out how to use Photoshop, it was relatively easy to create these monograms!

Ciao,

I love the look of custom-made maps for wedding invitations, but seeing price tags of $300 or $400 per map, I decided that good old Google maps would be good enough for me!

But that was before I saw this fab tutorial over on Weddingbee.com. Though Mrs. Ballet Flats used Microsoft Power Point, I used Microsoft Publisher instead. I imagine either program would be fine since they use the same tools, but, since I did all of my invitations stuff on Publisher, I figured I'd keep it up!

Here's how my first map turned out...

(Obviously, I changed the names of the major streets and rivers. Hehe, I don't live in a spy-themed town!)

I really love the way it turned out. I have to do a test print to make sure the words are going to be big enough to read on the 3.5"x6" direction card, but I'm pretty confident that they are.

Ciao,

Bridesmaids' Gift - Phase 1

2009-08-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

When I saw these ridiculously cute tote bags in our wedding colors, I just knew I had to get them! And the fact that there were only three left, the exact numbers of attendants we'll have? Well, that's just kismet!

Now to decide what to put in them...

Another Way to Jazz Up My Invites!

2009-07-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Now that I've sent out the first batch of Save the Dates, I'm ready to start on the invitations. Well, I've technically started over a year ago, but I do have a new development! The envelope wrap! Here's a fab design I found over at The Fussy Designer!

Unfortunately, the second picture doesn't show much, but that's where you'd put the return address.

There are a plethora of colors available, including this fabulous orange one, but sadly there were no pink ones! So, what's a pink-lover to do? Make her own, of course (or at least recolor one of them)! After a bit of time in Paint and Microsoft Publisher, I was able to make the pink one!

Now to decide whether to hand-write or type the addresses on them. I know hand-writing them makes them seem more thoughtful, but I'm not sure anyone really even cares about how their name was written on the envelope. I mean, would you feel snubbed if your name wasn't hand-written? Decisions, decisions...

Ciao,

Tunes: Father-Daughter Dance Options

2009-07-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a few options I have in mind for the Father-Daughter dance...

Father-Daughter Dance Song Options

Perhaps we could even incorporate a little something like this, Dad... (fast forward to the 1:00 mark for the good stuff!) :D

Tunes: Our First Dance

2009-07-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

And so begins the first post on our music selection for the reception! Steve and I were pretty much in agreement about this being our first dance song since we even began thinking about first dance songs.

Fly me to the moon - Frank Sinatra

It's classy, elegant, peppy, and the perfect song to show off our mad dancing skills. :P We've decided to put together a little dance routine to it. Nothing too quirky, just a few more turns and leg kicks and jazz hands (hehe, ok, maybe finger snaps instead) than we'd normally throw in. We're a little inspired by this fab routine...

Divine, right? Hehe, we'll just have to start practicing again soon!
Ciao,

Ring Love

2009-07-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

After realizing I didn't have any pictures of my engagement ring, I decided to get a little camera happy! Here are the results!

(Don't forget to click to enlarge them!)

So, I don't know about you, but I kind of love them! I had some issues getting the right lighting and getting a clear picture, but I think even the blurry ones look kind of arty-farty! :)

Ciao,

Prettiness!

2009-07-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have fallen in love with a dress for the rehearsal dinner! And it's from none other than the fabulous Target!

Unfortunately, because it's white, it's difficult to see the details. Here's a close-up of the braided belt...
Along with being rediculously cute, it's also the perfect weight fabric for a winter rehearsal dinner! Plus, it'll look fab with some hot pink shoes! I could totally picture it with...

a vintage brooch along the belt...

and layers of pearls.

Loves it!

Ciao,

To Toss or Not to Toss...

2009-06-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

After going through our guest list the other day, I realized that our garter toss may be a little sparse. I'm pretty sure we'd only have two single guys catching the garter...

So, the dilemma is "to toss or not to toss"... Do we open the garter toss to more than just single blokes? Do we eliminate both the garter and bouquet tosses? Do we just eliminate the garter toss? There are some interesting suggestions here and here. My favorite is...

"We are going to have all married couples join on the dance floor for a dance. Little by little the dj will ask couples to stay on the dance floor if they have been married for more than one year, five years, then ten years and then fifteen etc..... The last couple standing gets the bouquet. It's a nice photo opp. Too. At the last wedding I went to the winning couple, the aunt and uncle, had been married over 50 years. It's a beautiful tribute."

(hehe, it was suggested by a Michelle! Coincidence? I think not!)

Now that I'm brainstorming about it, I'm thinking it would be cute to have all the married couples on the dance floor. Then, we wrap the garter around the bouquet and toss it. Hmm...I kind of love it! :) Now to run it by Steve...

Ciao,

Wordle to your motha!

2009-06-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

So, I just came across this fun little website called Wordle. Maybe I'm way out of touch, but this is news to me and I love it! You can either enter in a bunch of words or link to your blog and Wordle will pull out your most frequently used words and arrange them like this...

It's kind of small, so be sure to click on it to see all the inane words I use on this blog! :) On a separate note, how could "orange" be bigger than "pink"? Don't I say pink, like, a lot? I mean, it is my favorite color! *sigh* I'll just take solace in the fact that it's the second largest word up there... :)

Ciao,

Invitation Envelopes

2009-06-16T21:15:00.001-07:00

While I'm waiting for my mom and Steve's mom to provide us with the addresses for our Save the Date cards, I've been busy thinking about the invitations! One of the latest additions to our To-Do List from The Knot is to order our invitations, so I feel like I need to get on board with their design!

I was hoping to get away with folding the cardstock in such a way that it could be an envelope in and of itself, like this example...
That way, I could save money on envelopes and the presentation would still be super cute! The only problem is that I usually see this style inside of another envelope, like this...

Is there some sort of invitation etiquette that I'm missing out on?!?

Now that I've come to terms with the fact that I'll need envelopes, the mission has been to find the cutest ones at the lowest price! Here's what I've found...

At just $1.09 each, they're a pretty good deal! :) While they may be the most expensive part of the invitation, I think they'll be a nice touch.

*Edit: I take back every single time I've ever said how much I love math and how it was my best subject in school! The envelopes are only $0.11 each! Hehe, forget to carry the decimal over two places!*

If worse comes to worse and I don't want the added cost, I'll either just found some simple white envelopes or try my idea of using the invitation itself as an envelope.

As far as sizes go, I will probably go with the A7 envelope, which will fit a 5" x 7" invitation. Not too big, not too small! Since we are sending about 115 invitations and 115 thank you cards (230 total, if you do the math!), we'll probably get three boxes - 2 pink and 1 orange. Hehe, I always have to overdose on the pink!

Ciao,

Flower Ideas

2009-06-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

I had to write this down before I forget! We won't be meeting with our florist again until a few weeks before the wedding, so I wanted to make sure I remember this!

I've been struggling to figure out a way to incorporate our pink and orange colors into our flowers. You see, I'm dead set on having an all pink bouquet. I don't know why, but I'm just not as much of a fan of multi-colored bouquets. I want to carry a hot pink ball of flowers down the aisle!
With my pink shoes and white dress, I won't be carrying a lick of orange. So, I think it would be cute if Steve were decked out in orange!

Hehe, okay...maybe not that much orange! Maybe an orange boutonniere, white vest, and orange pocket square? Or perhaps an orange vest and white pocket square?

Then, for the bridesmaids, who will be wearing a black dress, black shoes, and pink sash (again, no orange in the outfit), they could carry orange flowers. The orange bouquets will be used as centerpieces on the head table during dinner, so we would have a pink runner across the front of the head table, similar to this picture...

For the groomsmen (sorry to jump from ceremony to reception then back to ceremony!), they would probably wear orange vests with pink boutonnieres, sort of flip-flopping the colors of the bridesmaids.

I've been contemplating this whole flower/color dilemma for quite some time now, but I think I have it sorted out!

Ciao,

Duty Sheet: Maid of Honor

2009-06-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

Here's my next installment of the duty sheet - this time for the maid of honor!

(click to enlarge)

It's pretty similar to the duty sheet for the bridesmaids, but, obviously, tweaked slightly for the Maid of Honor's additional roles, such as holding my bouquet during the ceremony or giving a speech during the reception dinner.

Ciao,

Duty Sheet: Bridesmaids

2009-06-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

One of the overdue items on my to-do list is to make sure our bridal party knows what is expected of them. While I did discuss this slightly with my MOH, we agreed that having something written down would be much easier to remember!

I will be putting together a "duty sheet" for the MOH, bridesmaids, best man, and groomsmen (assuming Steve approves of this!), but I thought I'd start with the bridesmaids...

(click to enlarge)

I tried to keep it short so it won't get too overwhelming! Equipped with their "duty sheet" and wedding itinerary, the bridesmaids should be on top of everything!

Ciao,

In Case You Get Lost in the Mail

2009-06-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well, phase two of our Save the Dates is under way...the return labels! I contemplated hand-writing the return address, but I couldn't resist making these cute return address labels!

(Obviously, the ?'s are filled in with the actually numbers or letters, but I'm a stickler for privacy! )

The faces, which are supposed to be Steve and me (and they're actually pretty accurate!), were created at pose prints. If they look familiar, you're very observant! I used them for my blog heading!

All in all, I'm so happy with this project! My handwriting can get pretty sloppy pretty fast, so hand-addressing all of them will be hard enough!

Ciao,

Invitation Iterations

2009-06-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Although I still need to finish the Save the Dates, I'm already thinking about the invitations! Honestly, though, I've been thinking about them for some time! I think I've gone through about five completely different iterations so far...

From a purple and blue (yes, I said purple and blue...told you they'd be completely different!) version of this vintage-inspired invite...

to a pink and orange version of this elegant stationary...

My latest (and hopefully final!) iteration mimics the Save the Dates with the damask stamping technique. Although, I may get a little fancy and use embossing powder! Here's what I had in mind...

(click image to enlarge)

The response card, which would be about postcard size (which makes sense b/c, well, it'll be a postcard!), would be in a little pocket. I considered adding a direction card as well, but most people these days have access to a computer or GPS, so I figured they can map it themselves! :) Plus, we added a little blurb at the bottom about our wedding website, so guests can go there for directions and such.

I'm not entirely sure how big the invitations will be. I initially considering making them to fit an A2 envelope (4-3/8x 5-3/4"), but now I'm considering making them slightly larger to fill an A7 envelope (5-1/4 x 7-1/4"). But, I won't worry about that until I get Microsoft Office back on my computer and I can start playing around with them again!

*Side note: See the cute little pink blurred out word on the first line? That's my last name. See the much longer pink blurred out word just underneath? That's Steve's last name. Ugh, not looking forward to that name change! :P

Ciao,

The Dress

2009-06-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm done with school, I have a bit more time to focus on wedding stuff! I've completed the card box, tackled the Save the Dates, and started on the favors, but I've been neglecting one major project...the dress!

The Background Info
Now, let me tell you, I love fashion! Since I was little, I've been sketching dresses, shoes, skirts, tops, you name it! I'm honestly a little surprised I never went into fashion design, but I always tell myself that I'll pursue fashion design once I become a famous construction manager. :)

I'm also the type of person who knows EXACTLY what she wants! This can be a blessing and a curse, depending on the situation. I can't tell you how many times I've gone shopping with a specific item in mind and had to go home empty-handed because my criteria was too strict! On the rare occasion do I actually find exactly what I've been looking for (like my wedding shoe find!). However, I knew this wouldn't be the case with the dress...

So, with all of that in mind, I decided I was going to make my own wedding dress! I scoured the internet for inspiration, ranging from designer duds on style.com to simply chic dresses from j.crew. It wasn't until I thought back to my favorite dress from Project Runway Season 5 Finale by designer Kenley Collins that I knew how I wanted my dress to look:

Ok, so my skirt won't be quite as large and the top won't have a geometric pattern to it, but the sweetheart neckline, poofy skirt, and layers of tulle are right up my alley! I'm still a little nervous to even begin the skirt, but I have nearly completed the top...

Ignore the belt - I wanted to show some waist definition (plus, I used it to mark where the waistband above the skirt is going to be).

Unfortunately, the picture above doesn't show the fabulous fabrics, so here they are, up close and personal!

Off-White Silk Dupioni

Off-White Tulle

I've received mixed responses when showing the Project Runway inspiration picture to family and friends, but I'm confident I can, in the words of Project Runway's Tim Gunn, make it work!

Ciao,

Torn with Table Numbers

2009-05-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have a whole slew of questions to ask our reception site at our next meeting, including "are table numbers included?". I'm guessing not because all the pictures I've seen of the space have had different table number options. So, that leaves me with the task of deciding what kind of table numbers we want! Here are my options...

I like this option because I used the same template for our card box. Will anybody actually make the connection that the table numbers match the card box? Probably not. But, I do like continuity! Plus, they would be relatively easy to make, and they look cute!

These make me smile! Maybe I'm just a photo hog, but I like the idea of being in the picture! Plus, they're so cute and kinda quirky! Rather than holding up a piece of paper with the number on it, I think I like the idea of us standing near the number somewhere around town, kinda like this...

...but with me in the picture! Oh, and Steve... :)

As a bride on a budget, I'm trying to avoid extra costs, like table number holders or frames. So, I like the idea of doing a folded setup, like the last photo. And, with my new printer, I can print them out in all their colorful glory!

Ciao,

Mission Accomplished: Card Box

2009-05-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I've officially completed the card box! So, without further ado, here's the finished product:
Using The Bona Fide Preppy Bride's card box as a guide, I was able to integrate our damask print and our colors into this adorable card box!

As projected earlier, I ended up using a pink and white damask wrapping paper from Target (sorry, can't find the link, but it was bought in stores) and orange ribbon from Michael's. The "cards" tag at the front utilized a Martha Stewart template for table numbers - ugh, gotta love Martha!

Sure, the wrapping paper has a few wrinkles in it and the orange ribbon isn't exactly parallel to the edges of the box, but they are pretty undetectable in average lighting. I'm so glad to have my first DIY project checked off my list!

Hehe...a cute picture of Brocolli cuddling up to the box! He loves it!

Ciao,

Drink Up!

2009-05-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

So, I thought this would be a really cute option for the bars...
Of course, we'd tailor it to fit our wedding colors and theme. So, instead of a lime, we'd probably do an orange. And, naturally, we'd decorate the card with the damask stamp!

We may have to run this option by our reception site once we figure out our beverage package. We probably won't have any "signature" drinks. So, perhaps we'll list the different types of wine, beer (hello! It is Wisconsin!!), and soda. Now I just have to practice my penmanship...

Ciao,

Am I sick?

2009-05-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

That's what my mom always asks when I do something completely against my nature. I have been very "anti-mirror" for wedding centerpieces for quite some time. But, this Martha Stewart mirrored centerpiece has me rethinking my position...

There's something about it that I actually quite like. Perhaps the fact that it's lifted? The 1" height makes it more of a platform than a mirror. Or perhaps it's the scattering of votive candles that makes the mirror less "mirror-y".

I'm not saying I'm totally convinced about this mirror thing, but it still looks pretty fab!

Ciao,

Cute as a button!

2009-05-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

While I still have a ways to go with the pom-poms for our favors, I am already excited thinking about what we're going to fill them with! Since Steve is the candy fiend of the relationship, I let him pick out the candy, so long as they were pink and orange. So, he picked out sugar buttons:
To be honest, I've never heard them called "sugar buttons" before. I think the standard name is "Smarties". But, just as non-Kleenex brand kleenex is labeled "facial tissue", non-Smarties brand Smarties must be called "sugar buttons".

So, the plan is to buy 20 lbs of candy (approximately 1.5 oz per favor), mix the colors together, and serve them in the little flower favors! At about $100 ($0.50 per person) for the candy and $26 ($0.13) for the materials, these favors are fairly cost-effective!

Ciao,

Rehearsal Dinner Dress

2009-05-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

Since I'm making my wedding dress, I won't have the "pleasure" of going dress shopping. Ok, obviously said sarcastically. As much as I love shopping, I hate trying on clothes. And I can't imagine having a nosy salesperson analyzing every aspect of the dress. I'm sure it's not as bad as I imagine it to be, but, combined with my love for sewing and dress design, it just makes sense to avoid the whole thing and make my own dress!

However, the rehearsal dinner dress is a different story. I've already started looking for some cute dresses! I have been planning on wearing a white dress for the rehearsal dinner, but I wouldn't be opposed to pink (I mean, it is my favorite color!)

With the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale just around the corner (starting July 17th), I am hoping to bag a great deal on a dress then. But, in the meantime, here are some dresses I've had my eye on.

Ciao,

Still Swooning Over Cakes...

2009-05-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

I don't know how else to start this post other than "CAKE BALLS!" Ok, that probably sounded way less mature than I anticipated, but, seriously, they're cake balls...

Apparently, all you have to do is make a regular red velvet cake, turn it into crumbs, and combine it with cream cheese frosting to get some super moist and delicious cake balls! Obviously, my paraphrased instructions aren't going to cut it, so here are the full directions from Bakerella.

I do love red velvet cake, but when I heard about PINK velvet cake, you know I got on board!
So, apparently all you have to do is add make a buttermilk cake and add a touch of cocoa and pink food coloring, and you've got yourself a pink cake! Yeah, I'm pretty much in love! Of course, only the Pink Cake Box could make such a delectably pink cake! You have to check out some of their other designs too. Unreal!

Ok, done swooning for now...

Ciao,

Heel Grips

2009-05-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

I swear, I must have a problem keeping shoes on my feet! I was wearing my new shoes around the apartment yesterday (can you tell I'm excited?) and the slingback strap kept falling off. I couldn't figure out if they had to be tighter or looser. I think the problem is that the strap hits too low on my ankle, so it doesn't take much for it to slip off. But, that's where Foot Petals comes in...

These fabulous little strips of...whatever...stick to the slingback strap and help it grip to your heel! I've never tried them before, but I know a few people who have and they love them! At just $6.95, I think it might be worth it!

However, like any good bride on a budget, I'm test-driving a cheaper option! I put a thin strip of duct tape on the strap instead. I doubt it's as "grippy" as the Foot Petals version, but it might be just enough. So, one strap is duct taped and the other is au natural. I'll post my results soon!

Ciao,

My wedding shoes!

2009-05-11T13:04:00.001-07:00

I found the most fabulous wedding shoes this weekend! They always say third time's the charm...

So, without further ado, here are the gorgeous pink heels:

When I found them, I rattled off to my MOH why they were so perfect.

Peeptoe
Slingback
Flower detail, aaaand...
Pink!

They're not available online anymore in pink, but here's the link to the pair in black.

This may sound kind of silly, but I seriously think God brought these shoes to me! My MOH and I were shopping the Kohl's clearance racks (got a sweater dress at 90% off for $4!!!), and I decided to put back a cute cute cute blue cropped cardigan because it was only 60% off for $12. I mean, hey, I'm on a budget! So, perhaps God was rewarding me for not splurging!

I actually almost walked out of the shoe department without seeing these, since someone was blocking that particular aisle with their large heinie. Or maybe it was their cart...I can't remember. Anyway, we decided to take one last stroll through the area we missed and then we found them! The first pair we found were size 6, so we quickly ran to the size 9 rack. Low and behold, there were two pairs available! Oddly enough, one box had two lefts and the other had two rights (good thing I caught that! Hehe, I'd literally be dancing with two left feet!), but we got them sorted out and I'm ecstatic about them!

What a whirlwind, but at least now I can put the shoe search to rest!

Ciao,

My Bling

2009-05-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

Over the last few years, I have refined my style again and again. However, there have been some mainstays that comprise my signature style. These items include ruffles, anything, and big chunky necklaces! So, naturally, I want to incorporate these into my wedding attire. So, the first step is the necklace!

I asked for this Banana Republic oversized pearl necklace for Christmas - I even ranked it #1 on my list! But, as luck would have it, my mom failed to get it for me. :( Luckily, my birthday was right around the corner, and I emphasized the fact that I LOOOOVED this necklace! Alas, I did get it for my birthday, and I couldn't be happier! :) I've already worn it a few times, but I plan to wear it proudly on our wedding day!

Ciao,

Yummy Candy Bars

2009-05-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

Like menu cards, the "candy bar" is another one of those wedding things I never knew existed until I started planning! Although we probably won't have one at our wedding, they are a delicious way to incorporate the wedding colors!

Mmm...pretty (delicious) in pink!
Citrus-y sweet!
Old school favorites!
Scream Sex & the City with pink and feathers!
Ornate containers and classic candies are perfect for Spring!
Yummy goodies in our wedding colors!

Ciao,

Ouch, My Stamping Hand Hurts...

2009-05-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

Well, the Save the Dates are done! At least the first batch of them... All it took was...

a paper cutter to cut cardstock into fourths...

stamp pads in fabulous colors like pink and orange...
and an inked up stamp!

The results, if you ask me, are pretty fabulous!

The stamp didn't always fill in ink throughout the entire imprint, but I think it looked a little more vintage and "worn in". After a few practices sheets, I determined that a few blots on the inkpad and medium pressure resulted in the best coverage.

Menu Cards

2009-05-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

I've been on a bit of a stationary kick lately! It started last week when I purchased the supplies to make our Save the Dates! After a weekend of stamping (you'll see the results later this week!), I am on stationary overload! So, now seems like the right time to post on menu cards!

Whether at each individual setting....

or situated between two settings...

...I love the idea of a menu card!

My aunt offered to help with any of the planning, but she specifically mentioned menu cards. Honestly, at that point, I didn't even know there was such a thing as menu cards! But, now that I've done my research, I'm loving the idea!

I think we would probably do individual menu cards laying on top of the napkin like in the first photo. That way I don't have to find cheap frames or little stands for the card! :)

Of course, menu cards aren't one of the "essentials" of the wedding, and if the budget tightens, it would be one of the first items to go. But, if I already have the cardstock from the invites and a printer, it wouldn't be too expensive at all! Ooh, and it would look cute with the damask stamp we're using on the Save the Dates and invites!

Wedding Party Itineraries

2009-05-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

I'm generally a very organized person, so something like an itinerary definitely appeals to me! Especially at a wedding, where guests and attendants can get caught up in all of the excitement, an itinerary can be a fabulous tool to keep everyone on track!

While browsing The Knot's wedding galleries, I fell in love with these itinerary cards!

It took some zooming in, but I finally was able to read the text below each picture!

11:30 - The Last Supper! Lunch at Nick & Jake's in Parkville.
12:30 - Get to work! Decorate the reception site.
1:30 - Pretty in pink! Get ready in the bridal suite at HH.
4:00 - Say cheese! Formal pictures begin.
5:30 - Here comes the bride (& you)!
6:45 - Eat. Drink. Dance! Repeat.

Our own itinerary might be slightly different. I'm thinking...

10:30 - The Last Supper! Brunch at Mama J's in Milwaukee. [For the boys: "Mama K's in Racine]
12:00 - Pretty in pink! Get ready in ___. [hehe, I have no idea where we're getting dressed yet!] [For the boys: "C'mon, 007 - get on your tux at ____!]
3:00 - Here comes the bride (& you)!
4:15 - Say cheese! Formal pictures begin.
6:00 - Eat. Drink. Dance! Repeat.

Yay, another project for me to tackle! :)

Ciao,

Damask Paper

2009-04-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

One of the projects I'm antsy to start working on is the card box! I have the 13" round box from Hobby Lobby and the spray adhesive to stick stuff onto it. Now I just have to find something to stick onto it!

My first thought was damask fabric, like The Bona Fide Preppy Bride used on their card box. However, I'm having a heck of a time finding any! So, my next option is wrapping paper!

At 30"x 5', one roll should be more than enough! I think it would look smashing with an orange ribbon tied around it! I'm a little nervous about cutting the slit at the top of the box, but Steve assured me he can do it, so I have faith that it will look fabulous! I don't know how he does it, but all I have to do is mention a project idea, and he knows exactly how to execute it! He's so handy! :)

Ciao,

Our Favorite Cakes

2009-04-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

So, if you've been following the blog, you know that we went on a few cake tastings in the last few week. We still have one more to go to the first weekend of June, but we think we know which baker we're going with.

The cake itself will be a chocolate/cheesecake combo like this:
I love love love cheesecake and Steve loves chocolate, so we're both happy with this cake! The cake itself is more like a brownie (which I love!) than a cake, so I'm more than happy with it!

Now we just have to narrow down our designs!

Here are the top two:

and we loved the little flower on the side of this one:

Decisions, decisions! I feel like that's how I end every post!

Ciao,

Another Centerpiece Idea

2009-04-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

After my last post, I got to thinking about our alternative centerpiece. I was always under the impression that pillar candles were super expensive, so I hardly even considered them. However, after doing a little research, I found some candles at a phenomenal price! But first...the inspiration photos!

If you ignore the creepy fingers ready to pounce on the candle display, it's pretty cute! It's a little more Christmas-y than I'd like, but I like the idea of two different colors of candles and a square tray. Actually, I think they used a frame for this display, which is insanely creative!

I like that this centerpiece is a little more modern. Again, the main pieces are there - three candles of varying heights and a square tray.

This one is almost exactly what I had in mind! Change the candles to ones in varying heights and perhaps change the flowers to orange mokara orchid...
...and Bob's your uncle!

For our centerpieces, I would use the following candles from buyacandle.com:

We will be using a 3"x9", 3"x6", and 3"x3" candle at each table. However, now the question is what to put them on!

We could do white plates, although that seems kind of cheesy...

I fell in love with this silver charger, but it might be a tight fit to get all three candles on the 5.75"x5.75" interior square. I'd have to use sand like the third inspiration photo (it's actually the same charger but in a different color), but I don't know if that would fit our winter wedding.

My final option is to use a 12"x12" piece of fabric.

The more I consider it, the more I love the idea of using a damask fabric. Now I just have to find the right one!

Ciao,

Submerged Centerpieces

2009-04-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Steve and I went on several floral consultations in the last couple months. I feel like a flower expert at this point! A few weeks ago, we decided on our florist and have put down the down payment.

I'm a little disappointed because the final cost was about 20% higher than the initial quote. Also, she had the date wrong! I'm glad my mom caught that one! So, we're not off to a great start with our florist, but I'm crossing my fingers that those are the only hiccups we encounter.

On a more positive note, I'm in love with our centerpieces. Here are some of our inspiration photos:
Our florist will actually be tying single orchids with wire and floating them at varying heights in the cylinder. I believe some will be hot pink and others orange. We'll have to confirm that after our final meeting. :) We may also have some votive candles or tea lights surrounding the vase.

I would like to have another type of centerpiece at a different height. Initially, we thought to go higher, so our florist recommended a topiary. However, at $85 a piece, I think we'll forego this option. Instead, maybe we will go smaller. I am falling in love with some of these ideas:

(Ok,the last few aren't smaller, but they're still super cute!)

Lots to think about! I may just go with the submerged centerpieces for all of the tables, but my creative juices are starting to flow!

Ciao,

Fabulous Floral Favor

2009-04-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I did a little wedding shopping this weekend! I only have a few of the required parts for each project I'm working on so far, so I can't really get started on too many of them yet. However, I have started on the favors!

We initially planned to do a place-card/favor bag combo, but it didn't seem quite right. Then we had the idea to use shot glasses filled with candy. After some time spent calling local vendors for pricing info on glass shot glasses, and learning that they were way expensive, even when purchased in bulk, we decided to go the plastic route. Some were too small, some were too cheap (as in, reviewers said they arrived broken or chipped), and some were just too cheesy! But then we found the most fabulous pink and orange shot glasses - 2 oz, the perfect favor size!

We actually purchased them at a local party supply store, Bartz, so we saved on shipping and they were only $4.79 for 50 ($19.16 total, which is less than 1/2 the price of the ones in the picture!). Lesson learned: Internet isn't always cheaper!

I would have been totally fine just serving our little candies in the cup. But one night I actually dreamed about the favors (ugh, I'm clearly way too wedding-obsessed) and envisioned them with one of the pom-poms on top! So, with a few packages of tissue paper and some floral wire, we have these little babies:

I think I like the orange one better since it's a little bigger, but I was still experimenting with the size at this point. I settled on five pieces of tissue, approximately 3" x 5". If you want to make them yourself, be sure to check out Martha's online tutorial.

I used cheap-o green floral wire (none of this silly cloth-covered floral wire!), and I left a little stem (about 3/4 of the depth of the shot glass) so they can be planted into the candy (kind of like a real flower!).

Overall, I'm really happy with the results! Now I'll just have to get a big Tupperware bin to store 200 of these!

Ciao,

Unique Guest Book Ideas

2009-04-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

So, we all know about the guestbook. Usually a hard-covered album. Pages with lines to sign your name and such. Usually joined by a pen in a cheesy holder. Looks something like this...
It's actually quite cute (ok, I guess I fall for anything pink), but it's not 100% my favorite. I wanted to do something a little less traditional. And then, I found the "guest bowl"...
Naturally, it's another Martha project. :) Not sure where I'd find such an extravagant vase, but I'm considering using a fishbowl!
My only concern, though, is that people won't realize it's a guestbook and will bypass it. I guess I could have a big sign that says "THIS IS THE GUEST BOOK - SIGN IN!", but that's a little cheesy. :)

Another unique option is a rolodex!
There are a few options available at Etsy that I adore...
Steve is pretty handy, and I'm a little crafty, so we may just make our own! We'll see how ambitious we are!

Ciao,

Bird, Bird, Bird is the Word...

2009-04-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

I really dislike birds, and it started waaay before I saw the movie! I think it started when I was about 5 or 6 and a bird pooped on my head. Ever since then, I've been convinced they're are out to get me. Just last week, three birds nearly dive-bombed me! Talk about scary!

So, the idea that I would include anything with the word "bird" in our wedding is a bit absurd. However, I have fallen in love with the birdcage veil!

I honestly wasn't keen on the idea of a veil when I first started this planning process. The notion of a long flowy veil just didn't seem to match my style. Besides, with a shorter dress, a long veil would look kind of silly.

But then, I discovered the birdcage veil and fell in love instantly! I can't decide which style of veil I want, though... Here are my options from the fabulous website, somethingbold.com:

The Marilyn Veil

I love that this bride wore hers forward for the ceremony and flipped back afterward. This is ideally how I'd like to wear mine. My only concern is that it's a little too big and would cover more of my face than I'd like. So, that bring us to the second option...

The Elizabeth Veil

I would still have the option of wearing it forward or backward, but it would be a bit daintier and not completely hiding my face. Just a little pop of poof on the head!

The only problem is that I would like to wear my hair half-up in a bouffant (I want to call it a mini-beehive, but, seriously?, beehives and birdcages is getting a little to animal house-y for my liking) like Christina or Carrie...

However, my concern is where do I put the veil??!!!

I'm thinking I would just kinda tack it onto the side of the bouffant and let it flow over the bouffant thing and slightly over my face. But the question is: will the bigger or smaller veil be better for this? I'm leaning slightly toward the smaller veil because it looks a bit more demure. I may even forgo the idea of flipping it back for the reception if the smaller veil isn't in my eyes.

Oh, the decisions! This is only the first pass of this discussion for me - I'm sure I'll be thinking about it for awhile!

Ciao,

Stationary - Save the Date

2009-04-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

After about five iterations of stationary, I think we've finally decided upon a design! Though we won't be sending out "save the dates" for several months, I wanted to organize our attack plan early! So, here's what we've got...

They will be sent out as postcards to reduce postage costs. I considered e-mailing them to friends/family that are more technologically-savvy, but I'm afraid they'll be deleted without being looked at. I know I've done that more than a time or two!

The pink and orange damask print won't actually be printed though - they'll be STAMPED! With this fabulous Heidi Swapp stamp, we'll be able to customize all of our stationary!

This way, we'll be able to print out most of our invites in black and white and have the damask stamps add just the right punch of color! I'm so excited - I want to get started already!

Ciao,

Pom-Pom Post

2009-04-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not a cheerleader! Just an enthusiastic fan of Martha's adorable pom-poms! Here's one style in tissue paper!
I'm not entirely should where we'd stick them...there are strict rules against placing anything on the walls or ceilings, so hanging them is out of the question. I'm considering making very small ones and adding them to the place card table and gift table.

My only concern is that they look too summery. That's been the battle throughout most of the planning so far - pink and orange can look very summery very quickly - not ideal for a winter wedding!

Another alternative are these ribbon pom-poms - again, from the ever-fabulous Martha!
They create the same look as the tissue pom-poms but give it a slightly classier feel. You can even make small ones just like the tissue pom-poms:
My main concern with this style though is that it looks pretty Christmas-y. Again, not ideal for our winter wedding. (We even pushed back the date a week to avoid any possible Christmas decorations that time of year!) However, perhaps with the right colors (pink and orange, naturally), it may strike just the right balance between Christmas and summer!

Also, I definitely would not put the bows on the gift card table - it would be like "hey, forget the bow? take one of these!" This look would be reserved for the tables as napkin holders!

As the wedding date gets closer, I'll start experimenting. Until then, I'll just dream about them! :)

Ciao,

Cake Inspiration - Vintage Cakes

2009-04-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

If you've read any of my blog posts to date, you should know that I generally save the best for last! So, naturally, I've saved one of my favorite cake inspirations for the final post - vintage cakes!

Ok, I should clarify - I mean vintage-inspired. Obviously, I don't want a moldy old cake from the 1950's. Eww...can you imagine?!? So, here are my favorite vintage-inspired cake inspirations...

What I love about this cake is the varying shapes, ribbon trim, and contrasting colors. All it needs is a funky cake topper, and we have the perfect mix of classic and modern!

Google "pink damask cake", and you'll find this cake referenced several times! Culinary Stencils actually sells stencils to make this cake! Love everything about it!!

This one is a little too...folksy? But, I like the variations in frosting color and the intricate patterns. Oh, and the adorable topper!

Ok, technically not a wedding cake! But, still, that pattern on the side is too chic! Wonder how it would like on a pink or orange background?

Now, this cake is a little gaudier than I'd totally like. I've realized there's a very thin line between classy and gaudy for many vintage-inspired cakes. However, I do love the flowery ruffly sash thing!

I love the pattern with the pop of color! I could see this working well with a pink background and orange accent flowers!

This one is similar to the blue cake with the ruffly sash thing. Not 100% my style, but I do like the little doo-dads at the base of each cake.

This one is probably my absolute favorite of the bunch! Understated vintage flair. Ribbons along the base. A combination of frosting colors. Eek! So chic!

We start our cake consultations tomorrow, so we'll let you know what we decide then!

Ciao,

Cake Inspiration - Dotted Cakes

2009-04-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

I love dots!

Whether on dresses...

plates...

or boots...

I go wild for dots!

So, naturally, I would be drawn to dotted cakes! Here are a few of my favorites:

I love this cake and not just because it's pink and orange! I like the pattern that the dots form around each cake! Simple and chic - our wedding design mantra!

It's hard to see the dots on this cake, but, trust me, they're there! Even the flowers form big dots!

I love this one, naturally, because it's pink! I really want to have tinted frosting on the cake, whether pink or orange. It would be the perfect base for some dots!

This one is much more elegant than the other dotted options, but it's still gorgeous! Shows how dots can be integrated into just about any design!

So, will we incorporate dots into our final design? Well, only time will tell!

Ciao,

Cake Inspiration - Ribbon Cakes

2009-04-15T13:36:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the second installment of cake inspirations! I really love the clean look of a basic cake with a ribbon at the base of each cake! It's also a simple addition to some of the other cake ideas we have, so we'd be able to incorporate more than one of our key inspirations!

What do I love about this cake? Well, aside from the instant attraction to shiny...ok, I just love the shiny! I do like the mix of traditional (the topper + soft colors) and modern (dots + shiny ribbon) elements.

This is a very cheerful and summery cake! I wouldn't necessarily do the daisies or the swirls, but I like the idea of adding a few flowers on the side. Great way to add color to an otherwise plain cake!

Love this one too! I actually want a smaller wedding cake (we'd have plain sheet cakes in the back), and this one shows how a small cake can still be fabulous! I also really love the flowers on this cake, but I wonder how it would look from the back. Our cake will be in the middle of the dance floor for "cocktail hour", so I want it to be pretty from all angles!

This one is my absolute favorite of the be-ribboned bunch! I love the unique shape of this cake. I'm pretty dead set on have a stacked cake (meaning no pillars or crazy staircases or fountains), so the otherwise simple cake needs some sort of visual interest! Now the question is -on what kind of plate do you serve a 12"tall piece of cake? :)

So, all in all, I love the look of a cake with ribbon around the base. I think it would be a simple addition to some of the other styles we love! And it would look killer with my dream topper!

Ciao,

Cake Inspiration - Fondant Cutout Cakes

2009-04-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to part one of our cake series! We're starting our cake tasting this weekend, so we've had to organize our thoughts to make sure we know how to explain what we like! So, we'll start out with our first set of inspirations - fondant cutout cakes!

I'm not sure if their official name is "fondant cutout cakes", but it seems to be the most self-explanatory! So, without further ado, here's our first installment:

Eek! Do you love it? I know I do! The bright colors, bold pattern, and chic shape give this cake tons of sass!

Texture, color, and unique details make for a great outfit - so why wouldn't it make a fabulous wedding cake as well? I love this slightly mod texture! Might look fabulous with a baby pink base, orange instead of green flowers, and a hot pink flower on the side!

Martha knows how to showcase a fab cake! The circular imprints in the fondant add such a unique touch. It's perhaps a little too preppy? for my liking, but the imprint thing just had me tickled pink!

I must be on a circle kick with these photos! I like that this cake is really simple but still unique. I would probably want to jazz it up a little bit more, but the general concept is super cute!

Oi, so many things to consider, and this is just the first installment! Stay tuned for more lovely cake inspirations!

Ciao,

Cake Toppers

2009-04-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well, cake tasting is going to be in full swing for the next few weekends! Yikes, that means I better start running again! I'll post some of the ideas we have for cakes in the next few days, but I thought I'd quite literally start at the top - the cake topper!

I'm very peculiar when it comes to cake toppers. I love the look of monograms or flowers, but I've always dreamed of having a traditional bride & groom cake topper on my wedding cake. You'd think this would be a relatively easy item to find - I mean, it IS traditional - but, alas, it is a toughie. Either the topper looks too goofy or too froofy, neither of which are the look I'm after! So, here's the best I could do...

Every time I look at this one, all I can think is "SWOON!" It's so chic and modern, I can't get over it! However, at $79.95, it's not cheap. My heart is screaming "YES!" but my accountant is saying "no way". Also, Steve doesn't love it, which makes me even sadder. :(

This topper is pretty traditional, but it's much better, in my mind, than all the "funny" toppers with the bride dragging the groom by his collar or the couple getting frisky.

This one is sort of a blend between traditional and modern, which I like. However, I still don't love it as much as the first.

Maybe I can try to convince Steve that the first one is absolutely fabulous. Plus, if you hack off the bottom of it, you can turn it into wall art! See, it's an investment! Hehe, I'm so bad! Plus, I found it here for a few bucks cheaper. Maybe those extra few dollars will push Steve over the edge!

Ciao,

Favorite Favors

2009-04-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

So, I talked it over with Steve, and he likes the idea of the place-card/favor bag combo. Well, I'm pretty sure he'd like anything I picked out...he's easy to please with all of this wedding stuff! :)

But now the question is what to put in the bag! Here are a few ideas I came up with:

Adorable, right? I fell in love with these lil' guys when I saw them, but I'm wondering if they're right for a wedding. Do most people even like gummi bears? Despite these concerns,they are pretty cost-effective. Assuming each favor will have about 2.5 oz each, we'd only need about 6 bags total. That would run about $0.45 per favor. Not bad, not bad.

So, taffy seems to be a little classier than gummi bears. I don't personally love them as much as gummi bears, but I think I could learn to love them. Assuming each guest would get 8 pieces each, we would get 5 bags total. So, that would run about $0.48 per guest. Pretty reasonable!

Combined with the packaging costs (excluding staples and double sided tape because, well, I have a million staples and plenty of tape), the entire favor would run about $0.64. And for 200 favors, that's a total of only $130!

I budgeted about $180 for favors and $40 for place cards, so we're well under our limit! (Is it really a surprise that I'm going into construction management? Gotta keep those projects on time and under budget!)

Ciao,

Please be seated...

2009-04-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

I would describe my wedding style as "chic on a budget". We're very fortunate to have parents who are willing to help us out with the finances, but, still, I'm no heiress! So, we've had to be smart with how allocate our funds. Honestly, place cards are pretty low on our list of priorities. However, they're still pretty necessary, and we still want them to look nice! So, I've done some research and have fallen in love with some of these fab ideas!

Pretty Patterns
I love the idea of finding some scrapbooking paper or even some fabric that matches our wedding theme! Then, we can just use cardstock and clear labels to attach the guests' names and table numbers.

Ribbon Display
With the right styles of ribbons, this card table idea could be fabulously chic! My only concern with this set-up is that it would block Steve's dirtbike that would be situated behind it. Hehe...maybe it's not sounding so bad after all! :)

Pin Up Display
Another standing display, so it may not work too well, but it's a cute concept.

Pillow of Carnations
Eek! I love this! But, with 24 buds needed for every 4 cards (that would make a total of 1200 buds), I think we'll leave this one to the rich and famous (and putzy!)

Quasi-Placecard-Favor Bag
This might be a chic and cheap blend of the place cards and favors! For about $0.12 per cellophane bag and about $0.04 per place card (assuming 4/sheet), we're already off to a good start! Obviously this doesn't account for the cost of printing or the goodies inside, but it's shaping up to be a pretty economical choice! All we'll have to do is put the table number in the corner, and we're golden!

Table Numbers
Oh, Martha! I adore your fab ideas! She provides a template for these darling little table numbers! Just click on the picture and check it out!

I'm so excited to get started on these! However, my checklist doesn't have me working on them until 1-2 weeks in advance. Guess I'll have to hold off for now... :)

Ciao,

Chic LBDs

2009-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

little Black Dress = LBD = Lovely Bridesmaid Dress

I considered putting my sweet bridesmaids in hot pink dresses. Or even the same dress in various shades of pink and orange. But I decided to be nice and chose a black dress! We'll jazz it up with:

a chic pink sash,

elegant yet sensible black shoes,

classic pearl necklace,

and a fabulous pink and orange bouquet!

Just the right amount of pink and orange - as the fashion rules dictate, only sport up to two items of the same color! :)

So, the girls have all tried on their dresses, and they determined which size they need. Waiting for one dress to be exchanged for the right size, and then all the girls will have their dress!

We haven't looked for any of the accessories yet, but they shouldn't be too hard to find! We have a good idea already of what we want! I'm thinking we could even make the sashes - all it takes is some fabric and thread (ok, and maybe a needle. And a sewing machine).

Ciao,

Come on, vogue!

2009-04-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

s

If you haven't guessed already, we're talking wedding cameras!

I'm cheaping out on our photography for the wedding for the following reasons:
1. I'm cheap.
2. Who is really going to look at them once they're taken? They'll probably just sit in an album buried under everything else stuffed in my closet.
3. Photographers can be sort of obnoxious at weddings.

Don't get me wrong - I do want to capture all of the fun, spontaneous moments at the wedding! And I really do want some fab pictures between the ceremony and the reception. I'm completely inspired by the gorgeous shots I've seen at The Wedding Cabaret blog!

So, the plan is to have a professional photographer during and after the wedding and then have our guests play photographers for the rest of the night!

So, the quest begins to find cheap and fabulous disposable cameras that fit our theme, pink and orange!

Simple and chic with its matte plastic finish, this camera looks durable and easy to operate (gotta keep the grannies in mind!). Basic 35 mm 27 exposure film, couldn't ask for anything more! Well, maybe I could...I mean, it's not quite the right shade of pink and there are no matching orange cameras. Wouldn't it be cute to have the same camera in the two different colors? Besides, it's a little out of our price range - $5.60 each if we order more than ten. :(

This is similar to the last one in terms of color, but instead of the plastic exterior, it has a cardstock exterior. And for $2.99/each, I'm loving it! Again, the negatives are that there are no matching orange cameras and it's not quite the right shade of pink. The search continues...

Now this one is cool! Not quite as delicate as the first two, but I kind of love that! Plus, it's reusable! Cha-ching! Ooh, and it's only $2.95 - cheapest camera yet! But wait, there's a problem...there's no matching pink camera! Ugh, back to the drawing board...

In love! It's my color - hot pink! Plus, there's free personalization for the next 9 days! The base price, $3.29 is a little steeper than the previous option, but it would only translate to a few extra bucks! Plus, it has a twin in orange!!!

See! The twin! Now, orangey is going to cost $3.99 each and it does not have free personalization. Ok, so maybe we won't have them personalize them. They had tacky fonts anyway! :) Besides, I can do my own personalization! Hello, rhinestones! (hehe, ok, now that would be tacky!)

So, I think I have my cameras picked out. This is exciting! I'm going to wait to purchase them because I'm not yet sure how many we'll need. It will all depend on the table layout!

Ciao!

How to keep the boogie shoes on...

2009-04-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

Steve and I are going to have a pretty kickin' first dance, so I have to have shoes that I can, well, dance in! My first thought...professional dance shoes! Let see, there are...

Pointe shoes
(ouch, my toes hurt just thinking about it)

Ballet slippers
(Cute, but not quite what I'm after. My dress is shorter, so they need to look good! I'm thinking heels...)

Tap shoes
(clackity-clack-clack...hehe, just kidding!)

Ballroom shoes
(These are pretty much perfect - they have a heel, peep toe, and ankle strap, but they're not pink! And with all my searches, I could not find any pink ballroom dance shoes!)

Well, at this point I was ready to give up and go barefoot. But then...I found these!

Heelstraps

Pretty perfect, right? They slip right over your shoes! They look best with shoes that don't have sides, unlike mine, so I'd only wear them during the dance. Let's just hope I don't have to do a spontaneous high kick without them on! Bye-bye shoe! :)

There is a slightly cheaper (excuse me, more "cost-effective") shoe strap that I found at a professional dance gear shop...
but they look a little more obvious. Plus, since they just wrap around the instep of the foot, I'm worried they might fall off or something. I'm probably being silly - they wouldn't be for sale if they didn't do their job - but I'm just not sure they're "the ones".

So, let's hope this solution works for the dance, otherwise I'll be back at square one...barefoot!

Ciao!

My my my my my boogie shoes!

2009-04-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

I love pink. Not a disputed fact. Never has been, never will be. Just one look into my apartment and a quick scan will yield:

a pink stand mixer

a pink Nalgene bottle

a giant pink calculator
pink shower curtains
pink wine bottles
a pink umbrella...the list goes on!

So, when I had to decide on a shoe to wear at the wedding, why wouldn't I choose pink? I honestly have wanted to wear pink shoes at my wedding since I knew I loved the color pink! But finding the right pair has proven to be quite the task. First, we started with the ever classy Paris Hilton.

Unfortunately, they were a bit too tall for my liking and not quite the right shade of pink. Not a total loss though - I did get to wear them to a wedding a couple months ago! Just not my own... :)

Onto option #2 - the forever cheaptastic Forever 21. Loved these shoes the moment I saw them!
However, the vamp is a little too high for my liking, the peeptoe is too wide, and the pleated detail looked, well, cheap. I actually have a couple of pink ribbons in this color (coincidentally, they came from the Paris Hilton shoe box!) that I may use in place of the pleated detail - I just have to buy some matching thread to finish off the ends of the ribbon.

However!! There is a third option! :) These fabulous little babies from Wet Seal.
Pink: check! Peeptoe: check! Bow: check! The lace detail will look really pretty with my dress because they both have sort of a vintage feel to them.

So, now my plan is to fix up the Forever 21 heels and purchase the Wet Seal heels so that I can wear one pair for the wedding and the other for the rehearsal dinner. A girl can never have too many pink shoes!

Ciao!

Pink and Orange Color Scheme

2009-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

Pink & Orange Wedding Inspiration - by seashell127 on Polyvore.com

How does a couple go from purple/blue/silver to pink/orange for a wedding color scheme? Oh, just a simple realization that the classic winter colors weren't "us".

My favorite color is pink. Steve's favorite color is orange. Put the together and what do have you got? Bibbity bobbity - wedding colors! Kind of an obvious choice, now that you think about it...

My mom wasn't fond of the color combo when she first heard about it, but I think we have her convinced!

I love them because I think they fit my bubbly personality. And Steve's just happy because he gets to have his orange KTM dirtbike at the reception...
Boys and their toys... :)

So, there you have it - the mystery behind our wedding colors! :)

Ciao!

Wedding 101

2009-03-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my wedding blog! I thought this blog would be a convenient place for me to log all of my wedding thoughts, whether they be inspiration photos, updates on our planning milestones, or just plain fabulous wedding things!

So, first - the basics!

Date: January 16th, 2010
Eek! just 9.5 months away!

Colors: pink and orange
Kind of fun for a winter wedding! I'll go into more detail about our color scheme journey in a future post, but I wanted to point it out, since it is one of the "basics" of the wedding.

Theme: "ever thine, ever mine, ever ours"
Again, I'll explain that more in another post, but we're hoping to integrate that into a few different areas of our wedding.

Well, that should do it for now!

Ciao!

ever thine, ever mine, ever ours

Wedding Recap: Reception

Wedding Recap: Ceremony

Wedding Recap: Boys Getting Ready

Wedding Recap: Girls Getting Ready

We Did It!

Cake Cutting Tool

Unfathomable Numbers

A Woman's Right to Shoes

If Only We Were Having a Christmas-Themed Wedding...

Mission Abandoned: Floral Favors

Mission Accomplished: Flower Girl Dress

Mission Accomplished: Table Numbers

Mission Accomplished: Pocketfold Invitations

Engagement Photos - Part I

Cake Remix

Target Faves

J'Adore Crate & Barrel

Dinner Time!

No Barefoot Bridesmaids Here

Another One Bites the Dust

The Joys of Shoe Shopping

80's Chic Rehearsal Dinner

Fun with Monograms

You Are Here

Bridesmaids' Gift - Phase 1

Another Way to Jazz Up My Invites!

Tunes: Father-Daughter Dance Options

Tunes: Our First Dance

Ring Love

Prettiness!

To Toss or Not to Toss...

Wordle to your motha!

Invitation Envelopes

Flower Ideas

Duty Sheet: Maid of Honor

Duty Sheet: Bridesmaids

In Case You Get Lost in the Mail

Invitation Iterations

The Dress

Torn with Table Numbers

Mission Accomplished: Card Box

Drink Up!

Am I sick?

Cute as a button!

Rehearsal Dinner Dress

Still Swooning Over Cakes...

Heel Grips

My wedding shoes!

My Bling

Yummy Candy Bars

Ouch, My Stamping Hand Hurts...

Menu Cards

Wedding Party Itineraries

Damask Paper

Our Favorite Cakes

Another Centerpiece Idea

Submerged Centerpieces

Fabulous Floral Favor

Unique Guest Book Ideas

Bird, Bird, Bird is the Word...

Stationary - Save the Date

Pom-Pom Post

Cake Inspiration - Vintage Cakes

Cake Inspiration - Dotted Cakes

Cake Inspiration - Ribbon Cakes

Cake Inspiration - Fondant Cutout Cakes

Cake Toppers

Favorite Favors

Please be seated...

Chic LBDs

Come on, vogue!

How to keep the boogie shoes on...

My my my my my boogie shoes!

Pink and Orange Color Scheme

Wedding 101