In one month (or 31 days to be exact) I marry the love of my life.
The whole wedding process has taught me a lot about us, some good, some not so good, but hopefully with the whole wedding behind us and the marriage spread out in front of us, things will be better. The last few weeks have been a bit of a strain on us.
No matter what we've been through though in these last few weeks, I'm still entirely sure that I want him to be mine for the rest of my life. I love him. He loves me. We're good together. All of these little things can be figured out from here.
So with a month left, I'm sad to admit that I still have a lot on my to-do list, such as:
Make the card box for reception
put together flip-flops
finish mason jars and hooks
decorate cupcake stand
put together bathroom baskets
buy Mr. S's necklace
Finalize rehearsal dinner plans (pretty much done - but not confirmed)
Confirm all appointments and vendors
Sign pre-nup
Do name change forms
Finalize schedule
These are the major things, there's several other "little" things.
Has anyone else experienced wedding strain in your relationship?
Hair and Make-up inspiration
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Time is quickly running down on our wedding clock (32 days now).
I thought I'd share what I have in mind for hair and make-up. I don't get to have my trial until we get out to the lake for the wedding (they thought they'd forget what was done if I did it in July). I bought flowers that match my dress to go in my hair. Mr S really want a curly down-do (he's very opinionated about my hair). And since I'm adding little dragon fly touches now, I have some little blue/silver clips that would fit in too (Something old/Something blue). So here is what I'm using for inspiration:
As far as make-up goes, on a daily basis I don't use too much (anyone else only have a 5-minute make-up routine in the morning?). Even when I dress up it's not too much different than my normal routine. So for the wedding, I don't want too much, but I also want enough that I look fabulous. Here is my inspiration for that:
What inspiration are you using for your wedding day beauty?
I thought I'd share what I have in mind for hair and make-up. I don't get to have my trial until we get out to the lake for the wedding (they thought they'd forget what was done if I did it in July). I bought flowers that match my dress to go in my hair. Mr S really want a curly down-do (he's very opinionated about my hair). And since I'm adding little dragon fly touches now, I have some little blue/silver clips that would fit in too (Something old/Something blue). So here is what I'm using for inspiration:
As far as make-up goes, on a daily basis I don't use too much (anyone else only have a 5-minute make-up routine in the morning?). Even when I dress up it's not too much different than my normal routine. So for the wedding, I don't want too much, but I also want enough that I look fabulous. Here is my inspiration for that:
What inspiration are you using for your wedding day beauty?
Labels:
Hair and Make-up
Check, check, and CHECK
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Even though today has been somewhat disappointing with the whole photographer thing, I have motivated myself to get some things done.
First off, I ordered the loose flowers from Sam's Club. Earlier this spring, I scoured the internet for cheap loose flowers. I'm not very confident about designing arrangements for the bouquets, but I wanted to save some money on the flowers that didn't need florist arranging. From all of my research, Costco and Sam's Club were the cheapest for what I was looking for. I ordered 35 Calla Lily Stems and 125 mixed green and white Ecuador roses for under $200. What a deal? And they look great, this was an order someone took pictures of:
My next task I got done was ordering something to put the cupcakes on. I was thinking of renting something, but my wedding planner never got back to me on that, plus I'm kinda sick of writing checks for rentals. I thought about designing something myself, but that just seems like too much work right now. What I did order will require some DIY-ing. I ordered it from a company called CupCakeTree. They're pretty simple and come like this:
How would you decorate this? You can pretty much do anything and they can end up looking like this...or even better:
The last thing I got checked off was finalizing the band play list. They emailed me a list of their musicbook songs and I crossed off about 15 that I absolutely don't want to hear and highlighted about 14 that I really like. That still leaves them a lot of room to design a playlist that is all their own.
We're at 38 days until the wedding - Yikes - and I'm feeling pretty confident about getting things completed. I'll have a lot of DIY stuff this weekend, so we'll see how that goes. What are you working on right now?
First off, I ordered the loose flowers from Sam's Club. Earlier this spring, I scoured the internet for cheap loose flowers. I'm not very confident about designing arrangements for the bouquets, but I wanted to save some money on the flowers that didn't need florist arranging. From all of my research, Costco and Sam's Club were the cheapest for what I was looking for. I ordered 35 Calla Lily Stems and 125 mixed green and white Ecuador roses for under $200. What a deal? And they look great, this was an order someone took pictures of:
My next task I got done was ordering something to put the cupcakes on. I was thinking of renting something, but my wedding planner never got back to me on that, plus I'm kinda sick of writing checks for rentals. I thought about designing something myself, but that just seems like too much work right now. What I did order will require some DIY-ing. I ordered it from a company called CupCakeTree. They're pretty simple and come like this:
How would you decorate this? You can pretty much do anything and they can end up looking like this...or even better:
The last thing I got checked off was finalizing the band play list. They emailed me a list of their musicbook songs and I crossed off about 15 that I absolutely don't want to hear and highlighted about 14 that I really like. That still leaves them a lot of room to design a playlist that is all their own.
We're at 38 days until the wedding - Yikes - and I'm feeling pretty confident about getting things completed. I'll have a lot of DIY stuff this weekend, so we'll see how that goes. What are you working on right now?
Friendor - NOT!
Friendor - Definition: a friend who is a vendor that provides services for your wedding (hopefully free, but at a good cost/value).
I've mentioned our wedding photographer was a "family friend" before and how although I knew it was important to Mr. S to use her, I still wasn't comfortable. I met her for the first time at a consultation in January. One of my biggest questions was about acquiring the rights to our photos, mainly because of all the family not attending, so that we could post on the Internet for their viewing (and of course for my blog sharing). She said she didn't do that and when I and Mr. S pushed a little more she said she could "work with us". Obviously I really only want these for sharing with the family, if I want one for the house, office, etc I'm going to go to her so that the printing is high quality. On top of the not willing to share the photos, we're not getting a good deal (over $3000 for our wedding coverage, an album, the signature portrait, and a "father's pride" thing we're not using). We went for our engagement session last month and then she posted some pictures (about 30) on a website for like 15 days (Remember I tried to post them here? They were so hard to see and did not copy over for saving). We picked one for our signature portrait and then I asked what the cost would be to buy three of them digitally for our wedding announcements. First she offered me her announcements (25 for $45 - seems high compared to other prices I saw). I explained that I wanted the pictures for both the announcements and for web posting, so please send me a price.
Her response:
"The cost for a copyright release is $1000./image. If I can be of service let me know."
Are you kidding me?!? I nearly wrote her back in my angry state, instead I forwarded it to Mr. S and when I got home last night we drafted an email together (of course he kept tight control on the keyboard).
His email:
Thank you for placing the engagement pictures on line for us to view. That was good way for us to make our selection. If possible we would very much like to have a cd with 3 engagement pictures (not previews) and 25 wedding pictures (not previews). We have a lot of family from out of town that are not attending the wedding and we are going to need to be able to post the pictures of our day on our website. We don't feel this is too much to ask, we did some pricing of other wedding packages and it averages 50% of what our cost will be with (her xyz studio)and the rights to the pictures are included.
Everything has been great, pictures have been beautiful, and we are looking forward to the pictures from the wedding day. Unfortunately due to the family being out of town the cd with pictures is going to be a must.
Let me know what we can work out.
Her response to his email:
The images of the wedding will also be posted as the engagement portraits were. Your out of town guest can view them all or we can post a selection for just the guest to view. If they would like to order their own prints they have that option as well. You can post the link to your website so they can visit this site for viewing.
During our consultion we discussed the cd of images and that is not my policy.
Hmmm...so much for "working with us".
Although in my anger I did not email her, I did email my boudoir photographer and asked about her availability. Even though Mr. S wanted to try to work things out, I knew I needed a back up plan and that I needed to do my research if I wanted Mr. S to be persuaded. It looks like she and her assistant are available (not to mention for a 1/3 of the cost) which I'm kind of excited about, I really loved working with her. If something can't be worked out, I also got a business card from a co-worker for her son that does photography. Sounds like I'm covered if we do decide to take a different approach.
So, in the end our friendor did not work out. I'm hoping this doesn't affect Mr.S and his friend's relationship, that's what I'm most worried about. Mr. S wrote the friendor and told her of our decision to go with someone else, I haven't heard anything else. I guess this is a lesson for others when it comes to using friendors in your wedding - sometimes it's worth it to say thanks, but no thanks. I'm sure in the end her story will be that I was "too difficult to work with" or that I'm many other things, but hopefully we handled it with enough tact that his friend doesn't see this as a snub to his mother-in-law, just her business.
How has your friendor experiences worked out?
I've mentioned our wedding photographer was a "family friend" before and how although I knew it was important to Mr. S to use her, I still wasn't comfortable. I met her for the first time at a consultation in January. One of my biggest questions was about acquiring the rights to our photos, mainly because of all the family not attending, so that we could post on the Internet for their viewing (and of course for my blog sharing). She said she didn't do that and when I and Mr. S pushed a little more she said she could "work with us". Obviously I really only want these for sharing with the family, if I want one for the house, office, etc I'm going to go to her so that the printing is high quality. On top of the not willing to share the photos, we're not getting a good deal (over $3000 for our wedding coverage, an album, the signature portrait, and a "father's pride" thing we're not using). We went for our engagement session last month and then she posted some pictures (about 30) on a website for like 15 days (Remember I tried to post them here? They were so hard to see and did not copy over for saving). We picked one for our signature portrait and then I asked what the cost would be to buy three of them digitally for our wedding announcements. First she offered me her announcements (25 for $45 - seems high compared to other prices I saw). I explained that I wanted the pictures for both the announcements and for web posting, so please send me a price.
Her response:
"The cost for a copyright release is $1000./image. If I can be of service let me know."
Are you kidding me?!? I nearly wrote her back in my angry state, instead I forwarded it to Mr. S and when I got home last night we drafted an email together (of course he kept tight control on the keyboard).
His email:
Thank you for placing the engagement pictures on line for us to view. That was good way for us to make our selection. If possible we would very much like to have a cd with 3 engagement pictures (not previews) and 25 wedding pictures (not previews). We have a lot of family from out of town that are not attending the wedding and we are going to need to be able to post the pictures of our day on our website. We don't feel this is too much to ask, we did some pricing of other wedding packages and it averages 50% of what our cost will be with (her xyz studio)
Everything has been great, pictures have been beautiful, and we are looking forward to the pictures from the wedding day. Unfortunately due to the family being out of town the cd with pictures is going to be a must.
Let me know what we can work out.
Her response to his email:
The images of the wedding will also be posted as the engagement portraits were. Your out of town guest can view them all or we can post a selection for just the guest to view. If they would like to order their own prints they have that option as well. You can post the link to your website so they can visit this site for viewing.
During our consultion we discussed the cd of images and that is not my policy.
Hmmm...so much for "working with us".
Although in my anger I did not email her, I did email my boudoir photographer and asked about her availability. Even though Mr. S wanted to try to work things out, I knew I needed a back up plan and that I needed to do my research if I wanted Mr. S to be persuaded. It looks like she and her assistant are available (not to mention for a 1/3 of the cost) which I'm kind of excited about, I really loved working with her. If something can't be worked out, I also got a business card from a co-worker for her son that does photography. Sounds like I'm covered if we do decide to take a different approach.
So, in the end our friendor did not work out. I'm hoping this doesn't affect Mr.S and his friend's relationship, that's what I'm most worried about. Mr. S wrote the friendor and told her of our decision to go with someone else, I haven't heard anything else. I guess this is a lesson for others when it comes to using friendors in your wedding - sometimes it's worth it to say thanks, but no thanks. I'm sure in the end her story will be that I was "too difficult to work with" or that I'm many other things, but hopefully we handled it with enough tact that his friend doesn't see this as a snub to his mother-in-law, just her business.
How has your friendor experiences worked out?
Labels:
Photography
Ignoring my to-do list
Monday, July 20, 2009
Is anyone else ignoring their to-do list? It's not terribly long or anything, but I just don't have the motivation to get things done right now. Part of it was because I have been really busy with work and the kids/family. Part of it was because I was REALLY sick last week with some summer cold/allergies/swine flu (jury's still out one what I had) and at least it's finally subsiding slowly. I know the wedding is in only 40 days and that's NO time in full-time job-mommy world, but I can't help but just want it all over, to-do list done or not.
Granted I have done a couple of things, I paid for the florist flowers last week with my credit card over the phone and sent two checks to the Wedding Coordinator for rentals (yeah 'cause she can't just send me one email when I ask for it). I also sent the photographer an email today to pick out our signature portrait and asked some other questions (something I've been putting off). I also finally emailed the band for a new playlist so I can finalize music.
This weekend, Mr. S and I were talking about "after the wedding" and how he felt about us finally being official. In a lot of ways he's perfectly happy just having things the way they are, marriage scares him he says. I guess I don't understand that, I look forward to making it "official" that I'm him and he's mine. Anyway, we both agreed that we'll be happy when it's all over, we're both completely over planning for it.
Anyone else in our shoes or are you feeling sad about all of the work/planning being done?
Granted I have done a couple of things, I paid for the florist flowers last week with my credit card over the phone and sent two checks to the Wedding Coordinator for rentals (yeah 'cause she can't just send me one email when I ask for it). I also sent the photographer an email today to pick out our signature portrait and asked some other questions (something I've been putting off). I also finally emailed the band for a new playlist so I can finalize music.
This weekend, Mr. S and I were talking about "after the wedding" and how he felt about us finally being official. In a lot of ways he's perfectly happy just having things the way they are, marriage scares him he says. I guess I don't understand that, I look forward to making it "official" that I'm him and he's mine. Anyway, we both agreed that we'll be happy when it's all over, we're both completely over planning for it.
Anyone else in our shoes or are you feeling sad about all of the work/planning being done?
I LOVE this picture
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
My awesome boudoir photographer had a sudden death in the family at the end of last month so she hadn't completed the retouching on my pictures yet before she left for the funeral. She just got back and has started completing them so we can sit down and design the book for Mr. S, but in the meantime she sent sent me a few more teaser shots.
This was my favorite, I just have to say - I need to lay around in bed naked more often if this is the way I always looked:
I think Mr. S is gonna LOVE this one as much as me. I loved the ones I posted before, but this one makes the WHOLE process (the workouts, the dieting, the photo session, etc) worth it for me - 1 awesome shot where I look really hot. I can't wait to get the book put together.
This was my favorite, I just have to say - I need to lay around in bed naked more often if this is the way I always looked:
I think Mr. S is gonna LOVE this one as much as me. I loved the ones I posted before, but this one makes the WHOLE process (the workouts, the dieting, the photo session, etc) worth it for me - 1 awesome shot where I look really hot. I can't wait to get the book put together.
What would your FH think about you doing a boudoir session?
Labels:
Boudoir,
Photography
Ceremony Music
I wanted something creative for ceremony music instead of the normal "here comes the bride" or Canon in D songs. There's absolutely nothing wrong with those songs, they're just not really us.
I kicked around a lot of ideas, but this is what we're going to use:
Processional - Love Me Tender by Norah Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QBICzk3Ihw
Recessional - Ever, Ever After by Carrie Underwood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nRGC720Qak (I a huge dork - but I LOVE princess/happy ever after movies)
We're not doing any other ceremony music, Mr. S wants the ceremony to be as short as humanly possible - he gets anxious in front of people.
What unique songs are you using for your ceremony?
I kicked around a lot of ideas, but this is what we're going to use:
Processional - Love Me Tender by Norah Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QBICzk3Ihw
Recessional - Ever, Ever After by Carrie Underwood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nRGC720Qak (I a huge dork - but I LOVE princess/happy ever after movies)
We're not doing any other ceremony music, Mr. S wants the ceremony to be as short as humanly possible - he gets anxious in front of people.
What unique songs are you using for your ceremony?
Some bling and a trip
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Mr. S got some things checked off of our to-do list this week (isn't he such a good fiance). First, he picked up my wedding bands and then he went to our travel company and picked up our travel vouchers and other information for our honeymoon. It seems so real now.
First off, this is what my completed ring will look like - sort of:
I love it. It's so pretty :)
And because I'm a dork, I took pictures of the vouchers:
And because I'm REALLY a dork, I love the bag and the cute little zipper pull:
What events/purchases made the wedding/marriage more real for you?
First off, this is what my completed ring will look like - sort of:
I love it. It's so pretty :)And because I'm a dork, I took pictures of the vouchers:
And because I'm REALLY a dork, I love the bag and the cute little zipper pull:
What events/purchases made the wedding/marriage more real for you?
Yummy Cake
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I finally decided on a cake design and flavors - yummy! This is the cake we're going to replicate:
We're going to do our cake (the little top one) with Chocolate flavor cake with Chocolate Mousse filling and White buttercream frosting. For the cupcakes: 25 white flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and white buttercream frosting; 25 white flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate buttercream frosting; 25 chocolate flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and white buttercream frosting; 25 chocolate flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate buttercream frosting.
Instead of butterflies, I need to find some cute dragonflies (my favorite bug). I need to find some for my daughter's hairclips too. I was disappointed by and Etsy seller - she designed some clips for me - I sent her money through PayPal - and then she never sent them. At least I got the money back - oh well.
What are you doing for your cake?
We're going to do our cake (the little top one) with Chocolate flavor cake with Chocolate Mousse filling and White buttercream frosting. For the cupcakes: 25 white flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and white buttercream frosting; 25 white flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate buttercream frosting; 25 chocolate flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and white buttercream frosting; 25 chocolate flavor cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate buttercream frosting.
Instead of butterflies, I need to find some cute dragonflies (my favorite bug). I need to find some for my daughter's hairclips too. I was disappointed by and Etsy seller - she designed some clips for me - I sent her money through PayPal - and then she never sent them. At least I got the money back - oh well.
What are you doing for your cake?
Labels:
Cake
Picking THE Song
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Hi there...remember me? I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend. We had fun going to hang out at Lake Okoboji and not have to worry about wedding planning (well, we did some thinking about it - but not much). Anyway, we got back to the grind Monday and have been really busy.
For Mr. S and I picking a song that is "us" is very hard. We have COMPLETELY different views in music. I like things he dislikes and he likes things I dislike. It's been very frustrating. Yes, we COULD compromise, but then it wouldn't be an "us" song. I previously posted some options here, his favorite was the Jason Marz song and mine was the Rascall Flatts song. I disliked the Jason Marz song only because I didn't want a song that everyone else was going to have at their wedding this summer and because I don't really like the boppy-dance move he'll do to it (he's a total white-boy when it comes to dancing). He didn't like my choice because it's a country song. My next idea was "You Had Me at Hello" since he said that when we met that's when he melted, but again since it's a country song, it's out (I'm using it pre-ceremony though).
When he nixed all my ideas, I started breaking down and saying this was too difficult and I didn't even want a first dance anymore - it's stupid. Fortunately he's a very good fiance so he started sending me mass amounts of emails with YouTube links to songs. We went through all kinds of music (more "boppy" songs, Sinatra and the other good ol' boys, and many others), in some ways it was exhaustive.
We still don't have an "us" song, but we have some that would be acceptable. So we're down to three finalists:
Someone exactly like you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL23cb5SaBg
Crazy little thing called love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrelPOP518g
Can't take my eyes off of you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpWKAGvGdA&feature=related
Which one would you chose? Was this decision as hard for you as it has been for us?
For Mr. S and I picking a song that is "us" is very hard. We have COMPLETELY different views in music. I like things he dislikes and he likes things I dislike. It's been very frustrating. Yes, we COULD compromise, but then it wouldn't be an "us" song. I previously posted some options here, his favorite was the Jason Marz song and mine was the Rascall Flatts song. I disliked the Jason Marz song only because I didn't want a song that everyone else was going to have at their wedding this summer and because I don't really like the boppy-dance move he'll do to it (he's a total white-boy when it comes to dancing). He didn't like my choice because it's a country song. My next idea was "You Had Me at Hello" since he said that when we met that's when he melted, but again since it's a country song, it's out (I'm using it pre-ceremony though).
When he nixed all my ideas, I started breaking down and saying this was too difficult and I didn't even want a first dance anymore - it's stupid. Fortunately he's a very good fiance so he started sending me mass amounts of emails with YouTube links to songs. We went through all kinds of music (more "boppy" songs, Sinatra and the other good ol' boys, and many others), in some ways it was exhaustive.
We still don't have an "us" song, but we have some that would be acceptable. So we're down to three finalists:
Someone exactly like you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL23cb5SaBg
Crazy little thing called love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrelPOP518g
Can't take my eyes off of you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpWKAGvGdA&feature=related
Which one would you chose? Was this decision as hard for you as it has been for us?
Does this change my plans?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My parents gave me some really sad news last night. My dad is getting laid off from the job he's been at for ten years. It seemed so secure since it was a government job, but it's not. I feel horrible for his situation, I know many others all across the nation are also facing this situation, but it really hits close to home for me now. I guess I'm being a little selfish too - does this change my plans? The main reason we're having the "big" wedding is because I shut my family out the last time. I want them to be a part of this one and if he loses his job, does this mean they can't afford to come out? My invitations just went out - had I known earlier maybe we could have scraped the big wedding and gone to Tucson for a "quickie" wedding and then gone on to Mexico - now I feel stuck and obligated to have the wedding out here. My parents haven't said anything about not coming, they're in shock and trying to do damage control so I don't want to bug them, but what would you do in my situation?
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