Only 10 more days. Oh my goodness, I have to let that sink in… There are only ten days until everything I have planned and created and organized will either come together in a beautifully orchestrated harmony to represent Hubby and me and our love for each other and the life we are continually created… or blow up and show me to be a miserable failure at planning, creating and organizing. I am hoping for the harmony.
All of my DIY projects have been completed. All the vendors have all of their info and the time lines and charts. Everyone who will RSVP has done so at this point. (But even so, I have planned for a ten person “spill over table” just in case.) I am just focusing on breathing and enjoying these last few days. It is much harder to do than it sounds. I hardly slept at all last night… I blamed the mattress, but it was more of a problem of over active imagination. I am insanely happy and excited to finally get to experience this moment! Yet, I am also worried that I have forgotten something big. Perfectly natural considering this is my first time ever putting anything of this magnitude together. (Excuse me while I remind myself to breathe again, thanks.)
One thing that was a very welcome and needed surprise came from my wonderful, precious hubby. He planned out a mini-honeymoon for us!! I really didn’t expect it at all, but now I am so thrilled about it. Ya’ll know I am gonna need a break after all this goes down!
In any case, this will likely be my last post until after the 4th. I will then begin pouring out all of the great recap stuff that I have loved seeing from all of you fabulous blogger bride divas that have gone down the aisle before me recently. The love, encouragement, support and advice I have received from you all has meant so much to me! Wish me luck!
25 Aug
Tags: DIY, DIY bride, diy projects, DIY Weddings, September weddings, wedding checklist, wedding countdown, wedding planning, wedding timeline
23 Aug
The beach ones were pretty fun, but couldnt get enough good ones there due to a load of wind, ha ha. There must be a ton of pictures with our hair in our faces 
Way too overcast…but then again when isnt it overcast in Santa Cruz? It’s a cruel, it’s a cruel, cruel summer. Sooooo we ended up taking the majority of the good pictures in the house. No wind, just excellent lighting. Really fun though. So many times Lee and I just wanted to laugh our asses off because of how many times my mom kept saying, “Look into each other’s eyes.” It was’nt long after the pictures were taken, that we cracked up so hard. Well, enjoy the pics guys! Tell me what you think!
~Lee~
Tags: couple pictures, engagement pictures, engagement session, engagement shots, just engaged, wedding pictures, wedding planning
20 Aug
As cliche and stereotypical as it is, every post wedding bride will remind others that the day really does go by way too fast. Even though Mr Fix It and I took a few moments during the cocktail hour to walk into the reception area first before our guests so we could see everything all set up, I still missed seeing half of the details and elements of our decor and venue that I was excited about and had spent so much time on.
Some of the things that I never saw on our actual wedding day:
Our gift table – hell, for all I know, someone could have made off with all the gifts and I never would have known anyone even brought anything for us!
Our memorial table – this truly disappointed me that I didn’t get to see this because our photographer didn’t even get a shot of it and I had purchased personalized vases and had set out a poem and digital frame with scrolling photos of all of our closest loved ones who had passed on. Even though it was set up right in the middle of the cocktail area, I didn’t think to go stop and look at it and none of my bridesmaids or family mentioned it to me. Thankfully, I was able to capture an image from the raw footage our videographer shot so I have at least have this…the rest of these images are of the elements that were on the table:
Tags: after the wedding, details, post wedding, reception decorations, wedding decorations, wedding photos, wedding pictures
20 Aug
As some of you know, Lee and I have been engaged for three months. Wow, how time flies!! I swear it just happened. Since then, he moved closer to me. Instead of being 350 miles away, we suddenly became 3.5 seconds away from each other, ha ha. It’s GREAT! Sure we’ve had our times of annoyance for each other, and arguments about nothing but it has been amazing! The only thing that kinda sucks is he hasn’t been able to find a job yet times are tough. He’ll find something soon, I know it. Meanwhile, I’ve been working a TON just to make as much money as possible. Trying to find a new job that pays more is almost impossible, so I hate that my baby can’t seem to find a regular job.
On a happier note, we’ve been focusin on wedding plans. The wedding is nine months away. So far, we narrowed down our guest list and are trying to find a caterer. We already picked out a color scheme, now it’s all a matter of going to a bridal store to get swatches for my pretty brides maids and lovely maid of honor. In September, my mom and I are going wedding dress shopping!!! I seriously might start crying, lol. Not really, but Im sure my mom will.
We’re going to the Great Mall in Milpitas to a few bridal stores, pick out the color scheme and try on some dresses. Then of course in a month or so bring my maid of honor and select few people to come along. I’m so freakin excited! I’ll put up some pictures of some dresses that I’m interested in. Only if my fiance PROMISES not to look on the site that week. No peeking, Lee!
My mom also took some great engagement pics for our announcement and “save the dates” to our relatives and maybe some friends who don’t know about it yet. I know. I know it’s kinda late in the game, but that’s what I LOVE about having a whole year to plan the wedding. No rush. Taking the time to figure out everything is just fine by me. Fun, fun, fun! Well, that seems to be the whole all of our wedding planning so far. We still need to pick a site for the ceremony AND reception. I’m wanting to have it in the same place for sure, if possible. Bye guys!!
~Lee~
19 Aug
How exciting that FOX 5′s Good Day Xtra took interest in Wish Upon a Wedding, the world’s first nonprofit wedding wish-granting organization, and Get Married’s charity of choice! We are so proud to be a part of this charity organization and our dear friend Brian Green represented beautifully.
Check back later for pictures and details from the Official Launch Party!
Tonight, 6-10 p.m.
Mansion Elan on Clairmont Road
More info: www.wishuponawedding.org
Tags: atlanta weddings, Brian Green, FOX Good Day Extra, get married, wedding charity, wedding entertainment, Wish Upon a Wedding
19 Aug
As a couple just starting to truly dress up our home with artwork and other splashes of personalization, Stephen and I knew all along that a signature frame would be the perfect guestbook alternative.
Featuring one of the engagement photos my sister snapped, plus wine-themed stickers we snagged at Michaels, our guests’ kind words – written in purple ink, of course! – are the perfect reminder of how happy they were to share our day.
(Photo Credits: Personal Library)
Tags: after the wedding, bridal advice, guest book, wedding pictures, wedding planning, wedding recap, weddings
18 Aug
So my boyfriend and I just got engaged, and while we haven’t given much thought to a date yet we know it’s going to be about two years from now. Giving us plenty of time to plan and think about what we want, as well as do some DIY projects to try to keep things as inexpensive as possible.
We have two dogs, one who is about two and a half and on who is about 9 months old
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This is Cracker Jack the 9 month old.
This is Woodrow the two year old. Both dogs are really important to my fiancé and me. Cracker Jack was my Christmas present and Woodrow was the FH’s valentines day present. They are like our children and the only “kids” we plan to have for a while. So we were thinking about including them in the wedding day, we just are not sure how to. We are a little skeptical right now about Jack and his hyper-ness, he’s still a puppy but in the two years he would obviously mature and hopefully calm down.
Has anyone included their pets in the ceremony or reception? I probably should mention that we plan to have the ceremony outside so I don’t see a problem with having them involved, besides Jack getting distracted by the occasional squirrel.
Tags: bridal advice, dogs in the wedding, just engaged, wedding advice, wedding planning
16 Aug
Awhile back I created a list of possible posts that I wanted to discuss. One of them being this one, a post to talk about those who died and how I want to remember them on my wedding day. I write this in tears because for the 2nd time within 7 months I am having to put a pet to rest that I had for as long as I could remember.
For those who have died I wanted to have a memorial candle/vase (whatever I find cheapest) for everyone in general who could not be with us today but then for those closest to us we have:
Robert Maysonet – this is Kevin’s father. he passed away when kevin was 8. This here is something Kevin wrote on his myspace way back when, under Who I’d like to meet.
I’d like to get to know my dad better, he passed away when I was only eight, but he was back n forth to the hospital that i never really new him. The only real memory I have of him is that we were down the shore and my dad and I went to get pizza dats only a block away. It took us an hour an a half due to the fact that my dad, being that he had cancer, couldn’t really walk n breathe that well cuz of it.
Of course I never knew him, but I feel sad all the time knowing he won’t be there to see his son get married, or not knowing if he would have liked me, or to know both his parents cant be there together smiling watching the man kevin has grown up to be.
I once blogged about doing a grooms cake. Now while I am thinking about that, a definite gift that I plan to give him is a pocketwatch. and inside I am going to put a picture of his dad and possibly have one that I can have his initials engraved into it. It will be nice because he can have his father close to his heart as he gets married. I am actually so excited about this gift I want to get it and give it to him already ! We also are leaving an empty seat at the parents /grandparents table for him with his picture and a flower.
photo credit: americanbridal.com
Toby – was my dog that I had since I was 7. he was very dear to us and the best dog you can have. I grew up with this dog for 16 years until we had to put him down in january. I bought a butterfly bouquet clip from etsy that has a frame where i am going to put a picture of my precious dog.
Tags: ceremony traditions, memorial, reception ideas, remembering loved ones, wedding ideas, wedding traditions
16 Aug
The rehearsal dinner is a very controversial subject. A lot of people believe that only the immediate family and the wedding party need be included. However, after not getting invited to my friend’s rehearsal dinner last weekend, I have a new rule. So listen up, Emily Post:
ANY GUEST WHO HAD TO FLY OR DRIVE OVER 4 HOURS TO ATTEND YOUR WEDDING SHOULD ALSO BE INVTED TO THE REHEARSAL DINNER.
Here’s why. Let me break down our travel expenses:
Plane tickets from LAX to Charlotte: $644 X 2 = $1288
Checking two bags each way: $100
Hotel two nights: $230
Rental car split with friend: Approximately $100
Cab ride to and from airport and home: $180
In other words, it cost us about $1900 to attend my friend’s wedding, and that doesn’t include the little extras like water, food at the airport, etc.
Fortunately, her nuptials coincided perfectly with being able to visit my mother’s family, who happen to reside two hours north of Charlotte. So I was able to make it into a productive trip. However, if I had to spend that much money just to attend a 20 minute ceremony and a 3 hour reception, I really would have thought twice about going, as much as I love my friend.
My point is, it’s REALLY expensive to travel these days. You had better let your guests know how grateful you are that they made the effort to be there. Because even if you’re not planning a destination wedding, most likely at least a few of your guests will be coming from out of town.
Let me be clear here. I’m not complaining about missing out on a free meal.
The truth is, when I think about the weddings I’ve attended in the past few years, being at the rehearsal dinner is what made the event feel like a special weekend. I love seeing the photographs and the home movies of the bride and groom growing up. I love hearing stories and speeches and taking those once-in-a-lifetime trips down memory lane. To me, the rehearsal dinners can be more personal, romantic and memorable than the wedding itself.
That’s the part I was really sad to miss out on at my friend’s wedding last weekend.
I know some people are going to disagree with me. Go ahead and tell me what you think!
12 Aug
…that weddings typically only last 4 to 6 hours! Truly not enough time for a bride and groom to spend time with their 190 guests (in our case).
My friend Shelley who I basically only got to say good bye to at the end of the night :(
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…that even the best laid plans and attention to detail end up somehow falling apart when you are all caught up in the moment of everything going on around you.
…that the animals didn’t come out while we were down by their cages to take pictures with us in front of them.
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…that we (or I should say our photographer) totally forgot to go get pics by the fish pond, llamas, orange orchard, old antique car, barn silo, zebras, fountains, fountain pool, bridges and bird cages…oh, and didn’t get any twilight or night time shots with pretty soft lights glowing**
Tags: ceremony, chocolate fountain, guests, post wedding, reception, regrets, wedding recap, zoo
