Of all the things to THINK you've taken care of....

I guess I wasn't thinking when I had thought I had.....

I forgot my photographer!

Well.... sort of.....

See, I am one of those lucky gals who happens to have a brother who takes fantabulous photos. Please don't hate me for it.... its just sheer dumb luck. Well, that and the fact that the Big Guy Upstairs doesn't take a five year old girl's wish seriously that he would take her brother back and leave her a pony.

I was over at my brother's this Sunday when he mentions that I hadn't actually asked him to take my photos. Not that he wasn't happy to do it, but did I realize that I had forgotten to ask?

Smack face with palm a dozen times over and curse the blonde hair I am sure I possessed in a past life.

Luckily he is a very sweet guy and readily agreed when I humbly requested his skills at our little shindig this September. (I am sure that it helps I reassured him he could snap whatever he wanted, that I didn't have anything elaborate I needed photographed, and that he could rip the memory card out of the camera afterwards and hand it over without editing or anything) Thank goodness I have had some experience zipping around Photoshop!

So lets check that one off the list (I just noticed I hadn't even put it ON this list!) and thank my lucky stars that not only do I know I will get nice shots, but that I also don't have to shell out $500 for the hope that whomever I hire will actually do a decent job of it! (I owe you a very big and very nice thank you present!)

If anyone is reading this who is NOT family.... here is a link to his website.... trust me, the guy is worth hiring....

....and I am not just saying that because I now owe him big time!

Flowers

Okay.... I am getting to like this "pay someone else deal with it" thing.

I found this gal on Etsy when I was searching for bouquet ideas... and, after noticing I had "favorited" a lot of different bouquets by the same gal, I realized I really liked her style; sort of rustic and sweet with a lot of charm.....

...so I sent her a request about doing a special order for a wedding bouquet, a bouquet to toss, a boutonniere for Richard, and a kissing ball for my little "flower girl" to carry around. I was debating about tossing in wrist corsages for the mothers and a boutonniere for the dads too.... but I don't want to go nuts here! Silk flowers add up just as quickly as real ones...

The bouquet would be in pale autumn colors and I asked about inserting some little twigs or some other woodsy element (see the image above). And there won't be a ribbon wrap on the stems, but a brown grapevine wire, which will look all loverly and earthy. Anyone want to let me know what they think? Feel free to hit her shop and look around at the other other bouquets out there.

I also love the look of these cute kissing balls with moss.... these would be super easy to make and I think they would look darling tucked here and there on the tables or wherever. Maybe I could just make one of these for my little flower gal?

Home Hunting

Well the wedding is taking a bit of a backseat this week.... which is fine.... so I can start hitting craigslist hard and heavy, trying to locate a place for Richard to move into in August that is big enough for when the cats and I move in after the wedding. A lot of calls that I have made are immediately turned off the instant I mention how I will not need the place until August. I have, however, possibly located a nice duplex in Provo that (hooray!) is a decent rent for 2 bedrooms that will be available (roll of drums) the last week of July! And they allow cats!

I seriously hate moving though.... boxing up everything I own, lugging it from here to there only to unpack it again. I do look forward to seeing more of my stuff again, as its been packed in boxes since I left Washington, yet to see the light of day. I have gone through a couple of boxes over the last year (always a dreary chore that I keep managing to put off) and I am usually surprised at some of the items tucked away. I'll stumble across a neat vase and think "oh my gosh, I LOVE THIS!"... inevitably the thought comes back to me that, "hey, I really do love my taste in stuff". It is always nice to know that some purchase from yesteryear can still thrill me today.

I really do have a lot of boxes stacked up in the basement.... and, when I get around to packing my bedroom there will be even more (did I mention how much I really hate moving?) Of course, there are some perks. Fingers crossed that there will be enough room to finally have all of my books out.... which may stop me from buying the same books over and again (you think I jest? I looked around yesterday and realized I had 2 copies of "Shell Seekers" and 3 copies of "September" by Rosamunde Pilcher... I'd almost bought a copy of her novel "Coming Home" but I didn't...which is good, since it turns out I already own that one as well!) I have so many books I can't even keep decent track of their titles anymore! I kid you not when I say I have a full bookshelf in my room, an overflowing one that goes from floor-to-ceiling in the living room, and at least 5 large boxes of books in the basement.... and don't even get me started on my crafting magazines.....

So what's to be done? Well, at some point (thank you Richard for graciously offering to help once you get here in August... ) I need to start going through the boxes and be a bit ruthless with sieving the dross from the gold (the poor guy has no idea what a chore he has volunteered himself for!) It will be nice to move with less junk... and its a job I sort-of tackled in Washington, but really has been put off for too long now. I know there is plenty of miscellaneous junk down there that can be donated to Deseret Industries for some other gal to pick up and love.

I'd like to start the new life and home off with a lot less clutter than I normally have around me. Don't worry, my eclectic mix of cute, quaint, old and battered will still be around... but maybe just a little less of it. I want to fully realize the William Morris quote “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful” My problem is just weeding the "beautiful" items down to a more tolerable level!

Serving set

Okay, its probably a really little thing to be worrying about this early in the game, but I decided to buy a serving set off of Etsy rather than make one for myself. For starters, the sets are nearly as expensive unbeaded as they are to purchase them from this seller, but I also like her beading style. I am going with a silver set, with the colors shown in the picture above, but it will also have the large amber bead shown below...I'd simply go with the set below, but I am not so keen on the silver beads....



So the order is being worked on at the beginning of July.... and I will have one more thing to cross off the list (whew!)

Anyone see things that I am missing from the list on the right?

Weddings on a shoestring?

I spent some time this evening looking around bloggerland, searching for some new ideas for the wedding, when I came across a blog for weddings on a small budget.

Hmmmm... sounded interesting....so I went to the site and started to look around.

Small budget???

No one on this site seemed to be having a wedding for less than $8-10 thousand dollars! In fact, they were asking for new bloggers to write for the site.... preferably those looking to stay under $15 thousand.

Yikes.

I was talking with Richard yesterday and he is excited about our plans to have something simple and rustic because he'd never heard of anything like it before...all he'd ever known was largely formal. Personally, my goal is to stay under $2000.... but then, I am not looking for some sort of a grand affair or a 3-ring circus. I do admit, part of the budgeting is because we also have to rent a place for the two of us and furnish it, as I gave away pretty much all of my furniture when I moved down to Utah... but even without that consideration, I still wouldn't be having an elaborate affair.

I don't happen to think that weddings on a smaller budget is such a radical idea... nor do I believe the things that I am planning are cheap or going to make our day any less special. It makes me wonder when the world of the wedding became so extravagant.... and why in the world we accept such a notion. The idea of having people start their new lives together by going massively into debt (or their parents) is silly.... economic downturn or no.

Does anyone else feel that things have gotten a little out of hand?

"Guest Book" update... and more....

Checkmark this one as DONE!

I went to Michaels today and bought some paper leaves in copper (biodegradable!) for the flower basket...turns out they were on clearance, so I got an amazing deal, which is great considering I hadn't even gone into the store thinking about this.

I had actually gone to check for bouquet flowers...and to deal with my "Guest Book". I found a beautiful thick square glass to hold the stones, which I used a 50% coupon on, so it was only $10. Bonus on buying smooth river rocks... a 2 lb pack of approximately 15 off-white stones normally costs $3.99, so I had 6 bags tossed in my cart (figuring I could always buy more later) but they turned out to be on sale for $1 each, so I ran back and bought another 8 bags (honestly, if I need more than 200 rocks I will be seriously surprised!) After the wedding I will pick up a couple of cans of shellac to seal the well wishes written on them, so they will last...

I am really excited about this.... the gal at the checkout was asking what I planned to do with so many stones, and when I told her she and the gal in line behind me started oohing and aahing at how cute of an idea they thought it was! I figure that when Richard and I put these this vase in our home we can add some small black stones to offset all of the white and gray....

For silk flowers though, Michaels really disappointed me... not a single peony to be found (Richard and I looked over the bouquets I liked and we both really like the orange peony bouquet (with the teal ribbon stem... though I will pick another color). I stopped by Roberts on my way home and (hooray!) they had peonies. I picked up a stem in both yellow and orange to check against my dress, to see if they will look well. Roberts also had some lovely brown flowers if I decide to go to more of a mixed bouquet. I also fell in love with some orange and yellow poppies they carried... which would be a nice little nod to my paternal grandmother (who grew poppies) and would add more of a casual feel. Oh, and I was thinking of jewelry today to wear and I may just wear an off-white pearl necklace that was my maternal grandmother's, and whatever thing I decide to put in my hair (right now I am in love with the hairpiece below)


I think it will be lovely with my dress and add a pop of elegance to my look.... without making it overly dressy.

Guest Book Alternatives

Just remembered the guest book....

I used one at my first marriage.... and only two pages were used... and only for signatures. It was tucked in a box with some other wedding stuff and not looked at again for years.

I got to brainstorming for alternatives...

I love the idea of having flat rocks for guests to sign with Sharpees

though maybe guests might not be so into it?

Not that I worry that anyone will think me odd...

I found an Etsy listing for a wedding puzzle.... guests sign the individual puzzle pieces. Then you can shellac it and hang it on the wall to enjoy for years to come.

So I am considering this... and I am also giving serious thought to the stones....

goodness knows I keep rocks around all over the place, and Richard loves rocks as well, so that would really be more of an "us" kind of thing...

I should probably admit I have been trying to come up with a way to incorporate rocks into my reception so I can keep them in a jar as a visual reminder of this very happy day.

Anyone want to chime in on this?

Although it sounds like I've already made up my mind on this, doesn't it? Richard, its time you chimed in on stuff here.... what do you think of this one? Too far out there?

No planning information in this post...

....just a lot of excitement.....

7 weeks until I see my sweetheart again.... which means just 7 weeks until I can be kissed again.... and I don't plan to go kiss-less again for the rest of our lives!

14 weeks until the wedding..... which means just 14 weeks until he is mine all mine....

...guess that means I will be his all his too....

...isn't love a wonderful and funny thing?

Bouquets.... again

Okay, I admit I am seriously hooked on the idea of orange roses or other flower (orange, yellow and brown are my favorite colors) and I love how the orange and green work together on these




So what do you think of these choices?

Band Update

Okay, Richard and I discussed the pros and cons in renting a band and, regardless, we'd have to use the iPod for part of the reception anyway.... so why rent a band that is only going to be around for 45 minutes (and who knows if they would want to break down their set immediately following) and then have to break from the party to run over and switch on the iPod.

There is also Leah's wonderful question (this is why I only surround myself with the best gals!) as to the "our song/first dance" and even a Daddy/Daughter dance.... judging by this guy's attitude when I met him the other day, I am pretty sure that these guys do not take requests.....

So the winner is the iPod.... by a landslide. Yes, a band would have been fun, but I am trying to keep this as simple and streamlined as possible. I do not want to have to worry about anything once the reception starts other than having a good time and being hospitable to everyone who shows.

Wedding Plans 101

Here's a bit of what I am planning for my wedding... just to get everyone up to speed on the lines that I am thinking. I need to figure out a widget to put in the toolbar with a checklist of things that I am now done with.... if anyone knows where I can find such a creature, please shout out or comment with the link!

Item #1 - Fiancé - check!

Item #2 - Dress - check! (It is shorter on me than in the shot...coming about mid-calf. Paired with a cute set of tan cowgirl boots, I think this will be absolutely darling....(see item #5 below)

Item #3 - Cowgirl boots - still need to find...darn my wide calves!

Item #4 - Cake - flavor picked (lemon raspberry) and we are now tweaking the recipe... think I can call this a check! Thanks to Cynthia for agreeing to take this one on... I can't thank you enough sweetie. My mom teases that this is my Tim Burton Corpse Bride cake (and I can totally agree with that since I am a big Tim Burton fan.... but I really love the look of this cake)

Item #5 - Cake Topper - check!

Item #6 - My Ring Set - check!

Item # 6.1 - Richard's Ring - check!

Item # 6.2 - My Second Ring (it will match Richard's)... being made as we speak (I need a ring to wear to work because my poor engagement band is easy to snag on things and is getting scratched up here... I wanted something simple to wear that I won't have to worry about as much).

Item #7 - Wedding Favors - I was going to bag up candy corn pumpkins in mini burlap bags, but realized I had a ton of leftover brown and cream tulle and ribbon from making wedding favors for Yancy & Leah... why not finish off the stuff? I think it will still look darling stuffed with the candy corn, if not quite as rustic as I'd originally planned.

Item #8 (I probably should have put this higher on the list) - Wedding Location - Mt Timpanogos Temple - check! (sorry, I don't seem to have any of the daylight shots I took of this temple on my computer at the moment)


Which leads to Item # 9 - Reception Location - my friend Cynthia's backyard - check! I am thrilled Tom and Cynthia agreed to let me dump this on them... the yard looks AMAZING guys! Thank you, thank you, thank you.... sorry I don't have a picture of the yard to post... but I think the final result with all of the decorations in place will be fantabulous.



Item #10 - Honeymoon - Reserve a Mountain Suite at Sundance Resort for 3 days... still need to do the reservation, but we decided we'd love to stay here and then we'll have another, longer honeymoon in the form of a road trip next year up the Pacific Hwy (we are both big fans of road trips)





I love all 4 of these bouquets... I guess I'll have to start looking around at silk flowers. Anyone good at making these things? I love the first one (yellow roses are my favorite flower), but the next two look very autumny and lovely, and I love the pop of color on the final bouquet... I guess I should make up my mind first, shouldn't I? Anyone have an opinion? I think I am really torn between the final two... I love the brown flowers added in bouquet #3, yet that riot of color keeps catching my eye in #4


The menu is mostly figured out, I think... basically tea sandwiches, fruits, veggies, nuts and I am making mints in the shape of autumn leaves in a maple flavor (I wanted a non-traditional flavor and, since they will be leaf shapes I thought, why not. I tested the mints the other night and they were really good....). I am thinking if the ceremony is in the late morning, maybe the family will want to go out to lunch before the reception... since all we are planning to serve at the reception is cake and munchies....

The following images are some ideas I have towards the look of the reception...


I love the idea of using a pumpkin to hold mulled apple cider instead of punch!

and how can I resist mini pumpkins holding down the tablecloth? And little piles of gourds would look divine. And I love love love the mini pumpkins with tea lights in them... of course, this will be a daytime reception, and the tea lights will have to be battery operated, but I still think they are the cutest things ever!

Since Richard and I are having a friend (thanks Tom!) officiate over an informal ring ceremony at the reception (for those unable to attend the temple wedding) Tom and Cynthia's daughter asked to be a flower girl (which I hadn't even thought about having). I think I may buy some silk leaves for her to sprinkle instead of the traditional flower petals....I wonder if these would be hard to clean up after?

okay... there is a lot more I could post, but I think I have overloaded you all enough for the moment....

Music

Hey everyone.... I have been dithering quite a bit on if I should have a band or not. How about getting your opinions?

Its a local bluegrass band, which would be fun, but I don't want to overly focus on having a "country" wedding.... there are country elements, yes, but this is not specifically a western deal.

For those not in the know, I will be posting pictures of what I am planning this evening when I get home. I will, however, be wearing a mid-calf dress and, because it sounded fun, I will be buying and wearing a pair of cowgirl boots. I will not, however, be wearing a cowgirl hat.

My wedding topper is of a cowgirl in a mid-calf dress and cowgirl boots (she's even wearing her hair long and loose like I plan..how amazing is that?)who is slow dancing with her cowboy, who is wearing a suit and cowboy boots (like Richard is thinking of doing). The only thing different is that the topper groom is wearing a cowboy hat... which I don't think Richard plans to do. Not sure on that one....

But I digress. The decorations will follow an Autumn theme, and will be pumpkins and other gourds, leaves and the like and will take place outdoors. Country? Yes. Western? Not really....

So a bluegrass band would fit... and yet I think they would tip the balance from country to yee-haw western.

Personally, I am thinking it would be much easier to continue loading lovey-dovey music on my i-Pod and have it playing in the background and use that $200 elsewhere... besides, the plan is for sweet and simple and having a band just lifts it to a different level than I think I want.

What do you think?

Welcome Everyone!

Current count: 102 days until the BIG DAY!

Which is not much time in the way of planning, planning and more planning.

What is there to plan? Well...

A lot of the reception. Oh, I have an idea as to decorations and party nibbles... and I know where its taking place, but I am still working out a lot of the details... and lets not forget that I am having a second reception down in Texas for Richard's family and friends as most of them will not be able to travel here for the Utah reception.

The cake design has been decided, and the flavor as well (lemon raspberry) however, I am still looking for a better recipe than the one I currently possess as mine is a tad too soft for a stacked cake. There is also a problem with the leaf molds (oh, Autumn is the theme for the wedding) that I bought for the mints... the mints keep sticking to the silicon. I might have to wing this one and just roll them or use cookie cutters.

Invites... I still need to work up a list of who all I am sending invitations to, as well as get a list from my other half. Of course, I can't do much with this until my beloved moves up from Texas at the beginning of August and we have our invitation photos taken.... still, I'd like to check it off my list.

Honeymoon resort has been chosen... just need to make a reservation on it next month.

Plane tickets... for the reception in Texas. Rental car. Hotel room. Yikes... I'll worry about this later.

Anyway, the list is long and I am sure that I haven't even started thinking about some very important things!

This is where you come in.

I have no real idea what I am doing here, and am totally winging it as it is.

In the days to come I will be listing what plans I currently have.... what things I have already taken care of and what I still need to work on. Feel free to chime in gals at any time (comments or your own posts if you'd like... you all have permission to post here) with any ideas that come to mind, or things you think I may have forgotten or overlooked. This is definitely the time to play Devil's Advocate!

I'll also be posting pictures of my plans as they come into play.