fatafelice

Wine, Dine, and Dance!

2009-07-03T21:22:00.033-05:00

I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves on this post...

Back for More (vows, that is!)

2009-06-28T21:44:00.045-05:00

It's funny that the day I finally get around to loading more pictures happens to be the one year anniversary of our renewal. We don't really see it as an anniversary, since we were really married on the 30th the year before, but I'm glad that I am taking a few minutes to relive and remember it today nonetheless...

June 28, 2008

Since it had been raining a bit earlier, and more rain was in the forecast, the ceremony was moved inside at Deerpark (boo).

The musicians, Don Pedi and Bruce Green, warming up.

Since the ceremony was supposed to be in the courtyard, we had planned on arriving very early and hiding behind screens in the back of the restaurant, so that no guests would see us until the time came to walk down the aisle. I am not really sure why I didn't change this plan after the ceremony got moved indoors, as it wouldn't have mattered then, but I guess I had other things on my mind. So we waited in the back with no AC, just a giant fan (I am standing to get the most airflow), until the guests and the men were safely in the lodge room.

The men, on the other hand, apparently had access to the bar and were having a grand old time.

Here I am opening the card that Mike sent to me before the ceremony. It was thoughtful...

And funny...

And sweet. What a great reminder of why I was marrying him (again).

My wonderful grandparents, waiting their turn to head down the aisle. I love this picture of them.

Crossing the courtyard to the Lodge Room.

My mom being escorted by one of the groomsmen. The heights worked out perfectly!

Some of my ladies on the move.

Why am I nervous?! You know what else I am thinking?

How amazing are my flowers, really?

Here my step-dad is asking me, "Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Which is the same thing he asked my older sister on her big day, but doesn't quite work here, as I have already been married for 363 days at this point.

My adorable niece was not quite sure she wanted to walk down the aisle.

Good thing her daddy was there to help her along.

Here we go! (I love this shot of the back of my dress, by the way.)

Our brother-in-law surprised us by announcing that he had gotten ordained online in preparation for the vow renewal! It was completely unnecessary, of course, but very, very touching. In case anyone out there is working on a program, here is the opening prayer:

God of Light, who gives us the longing for love and the capability of loving, we give thanks for Michael and Elizabeth, for their open hearts and willing spirits, and for the example of love that they embody here in our presence. We give thanks as well for the loving example set by those who have left us to join you, but remain in our hearts. Be with Michael and Elizabeth on this joyous occasion of rededicating their love and restating their vows. And be with us, their witnesses, that we may all be changed by what is given and received here today. Amen

Next, my little sister (who has an amazing voice) sang a slightly-doctored version of "The Water is Wide," an old English folk song. She sang it a cappella and it was magical. We lyrics are really beautiful and the idea boats has ties to my dad, so it was all the more meaningful. The only thing we changed is the last stanza, which is less than romantic (look it up), so we repeated the first stanza at the end instead. Here are the lyrics we used:

The water is wide I can not get o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row my love and I

Where love is planted O there it grows
It grows and blossoms like a rose
It has a sweet and pleasant smell
No flower on Earth can it excel

A ship there is and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim

The water is wide I can not get o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row my love and I

The next picture is the wine and chocolate ritual we included in the ceremony. I got the idea here, from Mrs. Ladybug, and it was my favorite part of the vow renewal. Here's how it went:

Officiant: As the lyrics of the song implied, the waters of life are wide. Elizabeth and Michael have already experienced life’s bitterness, yet they have shown us that when they join together and support each other, their ship sails safely. Even through hardship, their love has grown. To represent this commitment to loving and supporting each other, they will now share a taste of life.

Michael and Elizabeth, there will come in your life days of great sweetness, and days of bitter sorrow. There will be celebrations, and there will be tears. There will be triumphs, and there will be tragedies. Life holds indescribable happiness in store for you both – and unavoidable pain, as well. And so to symbolize your acceptance of this reality, today you will share the bitter and the sweet, just as you will share them in the years to come.

Both of you, taste this bitter red wine.

Taste in it the dark days which will rock your marriage and test its strength. It represents disappointment, illness, grief. Know that these hard times will come, and with them, the opportunity to deepen your bond as husband and wife.

Now, taste this sweet chocolate.

Taste in it the sweetness and light that will fill your marriage with joy. Savor the richness of its flavor, just as you will savor every happiness that your beloved brings you. It represents shared laughter, your child’s first steps, your golden anniversary. Delight in it, as you will delight in your husband, your wife.

Next, a good friend read "Two Trees," by Janet Miles. This poem has tremendous meaning for me. I found it very early in the wedding planning process, and it has been at the bottom of the page on this blog since the very first day. It was so wonderful to finally hear it read with my wonderful husband standing next to me. Here are the words:

A portion of your soul has been
entwined with mine
A gentle kind of togetherness, while
separately we stand.
As two trees deeply rooted in
separate plots of ground,
While their topmost branches
come together,
Forming a miracle of lace
against the heavens.

We renewed our vows and re-exchanged our rings.

Since it was a renewal, our pronouncement went like this:

Officiant: Because you have renewed your pledge of love and commitment to each other before this company, I now declare that you are recommitted to each other in the covenant of marriage, and pronounce you husband and wife.

Then we kissed!

Finally, an Apache blessing:

May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
And may you live the days of your lives in
peace, love, and happiness.

And we recessed back down the aisle to "You are My Sunshine."

Whew! Done! Here are some post-ceremony moments...

"I can't believe you got ordained!!!"

Big-sister love...

A moment of awe.

And the ceremony was over. Mike and I went off to take portraits, and the rest of our guests enjoyed the delicous food at the cocktail hour. Next stop, reception!

My favorite DIY project

2009-06-28T20:20:00.000-05:00

I know this is late in coming, but I am very proud of how these turned out, so I want to share. I knew all along that I wanted to incorporate a wood element into the programs, so I decided to use wood veneer. The problem was that I couldn’t figure out how to fashion covers out of the stuff (you can’t fold or crease it). Inspiration struck after my shower, when I received some gifts from Williams Sonoma wrapped in green twill tape ribbon. I tried it out as a binding and it worked! So I cut the covers out of wood veneer and printed them with my Gocco. Then, I used cotton twill tape to bind the covers together. I printed the insides of the program on my printer, then folded them and put them inside the covers, using ribbon to hold the sheet in place. It was a labor of love, but I was fortunate to get help from my stepmother, and I was really pleased with how they turned out. Here are the details:

Supplies: (click on the supply for the source)

Wood veneer – each program used two 4.5” x 5.75” pieces
I used raw sheets of cherry veneer like the kind carpenters use (Sorry, I can’t remember where I ordered it from!), but you could also use one of the new micro-veneers sold by Cards of Wood . I bought sheets from them for another project and was very impressed with their quality and service. Just make sure that you are getting sheets with dimensions that you can cut with as little waste as possible. Or, have them pre-cut the pieces for you!

Cotton twill tape – each program used about 9”
I bought white, lightweight , 1.5” twill tape. I ended up dyeing mine, because they only had white or natural at the time, but now it looks like they have colors, too. That would have saved a lot of work! It is important to get cotton tape or ribbon, because the synthetic varieties aren’t as pliable. If they don't have the color you want, however, you can use Rit dye like I did. I recommend cutting the ribbon *before* dyeing it so that it is more manageable.

Paper – each program used one A9 card (5.5” x 8.5”)
I used Luxe cards in Frost from Paper Source. They are the size of a half sheet of standard paper, so I didn’t have to do any cutting, and I needed to make only one fold for each sheet.

Ribbon – each program used about 24”
I purchased 5mm Mokuba cotton tape, color # 23, from JKM Ribbon. They only sell by the spool, but I used it for other projects as well, so it was worth it for me. Be aware that this ribbon needs a long lead time (six weeks, I think?). Any narrow ribbon would work, though.

Print Gocco and Supplies (1 printing unit, 2 screens, 4 bulbs, and a tube of brown ink)
If you don’t have a Gocco, you might want to consider having the covers cut and printed by Cards of Wood instead. Or you could use rubber stamps, which you can have custom made, if desired.

Paper Source PVA bookbinding paste – dries clear

Brush (for paste)

Process:

Step 1: Cut wood veneer into pieces. You can use any size you want, but make sure that they will be slightly larger than the paper inserts, so that it all looks neat when finished. You will need a metal straight-edge and a cutting tool (I started with an exacto knife, but I found that a rotary cutter worked much better). Cutting the veneer may have been the most time-consuming part of the whole process, since my sheets of veneer were not square or consistently sized. If you can get them precut, it would save a lot of time. (Helpful hint: Cut the longer edges with the grain and the shorter edges across the grain.)

Step 2: Print the covers as desired and allow them to dry thoroughly. I chose to print a small motif on the front cover and a poem read during our ceremony on the back.

Step 3: Cut your cotton tape for the bindings. You want them to be the length of the program edge, plus extra to wrap to the inside. Cut a triangular notch in each end of the pieces (like a swallow’s tail), which will make it easier to close the program after assembly.

Step 4: Using a brush, apply glue to one side of a piece of cotton tape. Then, place the covers facedown and side-by-side on the tape, making sure to leave a small space between them so you can more easily close the program later and leaving an equal amount of tape at each end. Next, fold the ends of the tape over, lining up the bottom of the notch with the space between the covers. Finally, fold the program closed and set aside to dry. (Note: If you have Gocco drying racks, they work really well!)

Step 5: Print the program inserts as desired, then fold in half.

Step 6: Cut the narrow ribbon so that it is long enough to wrap around the binding and tie in a bow.

Step 7: When the cover bindings are dry, insert the program pages and secure with the narrow ribbon.

And you are done! I fully admit that this project takes some work, but if you have help, you can put them together assembly-line style.

Stay tuned for more details from the wedding!

10,000

2009-04-10T22:10:00.001-05:00

Wow. This little blog o'mine hit 10,000 visits today.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to check it out!

My Little Posers

2009-04-05T22:12:00.010-05:00

Mike and I agreed that we didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, so we got all of the separate portraits taken care of beforehand and waited until after to take the rest. The girls and my parents and I took our shots outside of the Inn, while the boys did theirs at Deerpark.

Sisters.

My adorable niece...

Still being adorable.

I told my girls to choose their own navy or navy/white dresses, but in reality, I ended up finding most of the dresses for them. I think it worked out pretty well, though. From left to right: Jcrew, Anthropologie, (me), Donna Ricco, Jcrew, Jcrew.

Brother-in-law taking care of continuously-adorable niece.

Stepmom documenting from the sidelines.

Moving back inside - It got really hot!

Apparently, my photographer Eric saw a snake out there! I am glad he didn't tell me.

Wearing my dad's wedding band.

My mom is a master boutonniere-pinner

Clearly, hanging baskets are the best place to store your beer while taking pictures.

Gettin' Gussied Up

2009-03-02T23:27:00.011-05:00

The ladies and I got ready in the Wharton Suite at the Inn on Biltmore estate (we had been upgraded!) and it was divine. Every bride should have the experience of all that room while getting ready with five other women. Also included are some shots of the men preparing themselves at the nearby (and also quite nice) Doubletree. You'll notice that there was some imbibing going on at both locations, but I am happy to report that everyone showed up sober for the ceremony.

Hair done by Rebecca from Lola Salon in Asheville.

The amazing view from our room.

My flowers hanging out and waiting for their big moment.

D'oh! Why didn't someone shut the armoire door?!

Close-up of my dress. Check here for the details.

I love this Anthropologie skirt. I am so glad that I wore it to get ready and consequently have it immortalized forever.

My bridesmaids seemed to have a lot more free time than I did.

Close-up of my hair and the vintage/antique comb I bought on eBay. In retrospect, I don't think I ever looked at the back of my hair on my wedding day. I don't know why I didn't, but I wish I had, as I might have asked her to tweak a few things.

Make-up my Karen, also from Lola Salon.

Hmmmm. It seems one half of the bridal party is working a little harder than the other.

Well, thank heavens for Mike's goomsman/former roommate. Apparently, he ironed everyone's clothes, even though I had only asked him to take care of Mike's shirt. I knew he could be trusted.

We bought all of the groommens' shirts and khakis from Men's Wearhouse (hey, it is convenient). And we gave them ties from Brooks Brothers (well, the outlet) as gifts, in addition to flasks with their initials (not my idea).

I love this shot of my little sis. Plus, you can see one of the bridesmaids' gifts - a bag with their initials, in which I put an umbrella, flipflops, and a leather jewelry roll with some pearl/silver jewelry I made for them.

The bracelet I made for my little sister. They each got one or two things, at least one of which had one of these silver bird clasps.

Zippin' up.

Being shod - isn't it great that on your wedding day, your friends treat you like a princess?

(Also, you can see one of the other bridesmaid's necklace.)

By the way, veils are hard to put on without messing up your hair.

I love this picture. It is so "Girls getting ready to walk out the door." I think they are trying to help me figure out what I need to put in my clutch.

Adjusting earrings (another gift).

One last look to make sure I didn't forget anything.

Waiting for the elevator. Actually, I am only including this because I adored that umbrella that I bought for the wedding, and I didn't end up needing it.

Ladies Who Lunch

2009-02-22T23:53:00.009-05:00

Since the wedding ceremony wasn't scheduled to begin until 6:00 PM, I originally planned to have a small brunch/lunch for all of my bridesmaids earlier in the day, before we started getting ready. Then, two of my aunts asked what they could do for me, as they wouldn't be able to throw a shower (due to logistics). They took over my luncheon plans and they exceeded all of my expectations!

The lunch was held at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, on the terrace you see below. The view and the weather were both perfect, and the food was completely delicious. Our photographer arrived early enough to take some pictures, and he got some wonderful shots of my favorite ladies. I have included a few below. I only wish he had gotten there before my big sister and niece left!

Our only gentleman guest: The son of my honorary bridesmaid.

My aunts got everyone these julep cup favors with the date on one side and the guest's last initial on the other. They make a perfect little vase as well.

This was such a splendid way to begin my wedding day, and I am so grateful to those who put it all together and those who attended.

Welcome!

2009-02-20T21:47:00.019-05:00

Since everyone who came to the wedding would have to travel, we wanted to be able to do something for them on Friday night. I had originally wanted to have the wedding itself at Biltmore's River Bend Barn, but Mike vetoed it as being too casual. We decided it would make the perfect location to have a Friday night Welcome Party, instead! I asked our wedding photographer if he would come out for a few hours to take some pictures, and he did an amazing job. This isn't even half of the pictures I love from the event. I think the best part about Eric is his ability to take candid portraits. You may not know my family and friends, but I promise that his images capture them perfectly.

All the food and drinks were served in the stalls of the old barn!

Since we had fewer people attend than our minimum for the wedding, Biltmore catering made up these welcome bags for us with Biltmore water and a frosted cookie in the shape of the house! They were a big hit.

I will explain: Mike's love of penguins + work on construction sites + Clemson Univeristy (orange) = a groom's cake! I thought it made more sense to have it at the Welcome Night party that at the wedding, where there would already be a cake. There were a lot of raised eyebrows, but Mike loved it, so it was worth it.

I am not going to go into a lengthy explanation here, but know that there was a custom musical number (courtesy of my step-mom and little sister) that called for audience participation. 'Nuff said.

It was a great night.

PS: You might notice there aren't a lot of pictures of me. Apparently, I made some poor wardrobe, hair, and visible-tan -line decisions, so I hate all of the pictures of myself from the party. Fortunately, the next day I had professional hair and make-up, so I was much more presentable.

(note: Eric sent me all raw files, so these have minimal processing. I can't manage much more than cropping and Some color adjustment!)

Well, we bit the bullet.

2009-02-20T19:38:00.003-05:00

We went ahead and purchased our digital negatives when our photographer, Eric McCarty, offered them at a lower price. Yes, we had already purchased some prints, and yes, we are still going to have him make an album for us, but it still seemed like a good idea. After all, I can only fit about 120 images in the album, and there are nearly 1600 to choose from! I am going to have to cut out all of the pictures from the welcome party and the brunch, and dozens more that I just happen to really like. And if I tried to order prints of all of those from Pictage, it would cost a fortune anyway. This way, I can have a stunning album made by Eric - which is one of the reasons we chose him - and I can make my own albums from all of the other images I love. It also means that I can share more pictures here on the blog! So stay tuned for an avalanche of wedding-y goodness.

Good thing I didn't resolve to blog more...

2009-01-30T20:11:00.008-05:00

January has been rough. I have been sick or in pain for much of it, and finalizing/attending a bridal shower in Florida for the rest. Plus, I am in a total slump at work. My apathetic students are making me insane, and I am distinctly *not* looking forward to a meeting with Mr. Crazy Parent on Monday.

At any rate, I just wrote a monster post on my Haber & Dashery blog about these favors that I made for the aforementioned shower, so please hop over an take a look.

Also, since this blog has mostly been wedding-related, let me share a little bit about the cake I ordered for the shower. I was inspired by these:

And Edgewood Bakery in Jacksonville, Florida made this amazing cake for me:

They did all that I wanted and more (chocolate buttercream and strawberry filling, please?), and the cake was moist and delicious. If you need a cake in Jacksonville, you should definitely check them out.

*Thanks to my big sis for handling the cake-ordering logistics!

Goals for the New Year

2009-01-01T21:39:00.003-05:00

I don't think I have ever put resolutions into writing, but I think that this year, it would be good for me to write down my goals as a way of keeping myself honest. Too little has been accomplished in the last few years of my life; I feel like I have been too passive, simply in "survivial mode." I want 2009 the year where I take a little control and make things happen for myself. I am not calling them resolutions because I know that they may not all come to pass, but here is what I hope to accomplish in the next year, in no particular order:

1. Get my Etsy shop up and running
2. Take charge of my physical and mental health
3. Lose 30 pounds (or more!)
4. Learn how to use my new camera properly
5. Learn how to use Photoshop and Illustrator
6. Take a class in beginning metalsmithing
7. Be more "green"

I am sure I could add more, but I think seven is enough, especially since some of them are pretty big. I am feeling optimistic, though, about the new year, and I am looking forward to working on these goals. I am going to try to blog more as well, but I didn't write a goal for that, since I don't want to allow blogging to become a distraction from the rest. Of course, that being said, I am also starting a new blog - Haber & Dashery - to document my craft projects and my progress for the Etsy shop. I am going to write my first posts today with a project I made for our nephews for Christmas, so please check it out!

I am thankful for...

2008-11-27T22:13:00.008-05:00

Anyone who is still reading this blog!

Seriously, I know it has been months, but I promise I will be posting regularly soon. In the meantime, here is something new to look at. Thanks to Coveiter for the idea!

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Sneak Peek!

2008-07-22T15:25:00.016-05:00

I won't have pro pics for a little while, but I just can't wait any longer to share a few shots from our wonderful day!

Seriously?

2008-06-20T10:21:00.002-05:00

This is really what you're giving me, Mother Nature?

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

2008-06-18T17:43:00.002-05:00

Say it isn't so, Weather.com!

Scattered thunderstorms on Friday? The day of our *outdoor* Welcome Party?

I will only let you get away with this if tomorrow I check you and you tell me Saturday will be sunny and 70 degrees.

Though, to look on the bright side, since so few people are coming, we might all actually fit under the one shelter at the W.P. location. Fingers crossed.

Anyone want to come to our wedding? Anyone?

2008-06-16T17:03:00.002-05:00

Long story short, it seems that our wedding is only going to have about 60 attendees. I know I should be happy with an intimite event, but it feels kind of sh*tty instead. Mostly because last year, 100+ people were planning to attend. Yeah, I know we are already married, and I know it is far away, but come on, people! Have some sympathy for the fact that Mike lost his mom and we had our wedding cancelled. We were really looking forward to having this day, and it makes me sad that more people don't want to share it with us.

Oh, and having to pay for 110 people whether they are there or not? That sucks too.

Another Contender

2008-05-25T00:58:00.005-05:00

I was complaining this week about how difficult it has been to find a dress (that meets my requirements) for the reception. Someone asked me if I really needed such a dress. Well, I replied that since I recently had a nightmare about my antique lace dress falling to pieces as I wore it...Yes, I need another dress to wear for dancing.

The good news? I think I found one! I ordered this Donna Morgan Eyelet Dress from Barrie Pace today. I hope it comes quickly so I can settle this business. I'll keep you updated.

(it looks like this, only white)

Edit: It is also here in white.

I just got really excited...

2008-05-23T17:07:00.003-05:00

While I was typing up a list of changed and new details for the florist. The flowers are possibly my favorite part and the thing (other than renewing our vows) that I am looking forward to most. I feel like they are really going to create the atmosphere. Plus, they'll be really pretty! Here's what we are planning right now:

Personal:

Bride’s Bouquet: Loose, but not too vertical. Flowers in white/creams and blues (especially varying shades of delphinium, but no hydrangea), with fiddle head ferns. Other ferns/greenery. Lavender? Wrapped in navy grosgrain ribbon and lace tied in a bow with trailing ribbons. Silver locket attached.

5 Bridesmaid bouquets: mix of flowers, blues, white/creams, ferns. Wrapped in blue grosgrain ribbon with mother-of-pearl buckles

Flower girl: Basket with flowers that coordinate with the BMs.

Boutonnieres- groom, 5 groomsmen, 1 father: Something 'interesting," like thistle, fiddle heads. Wrapped in blue grosgrain.

2 mothers & 1 honorary bridesmaid/reader: Pinned corsages with white lt. blue flowers. Ivory ribbon if needed

Ceremony:
*There will be dk. brown chivari chairs with white seats
Program placed on every other seat
Stacked Barn wood boxes with greens and flowers at altar
Moss aisle runner

Cocktails:
Small tables with ivory linens, with potted ferns and votives

Guestbook table: ivory linens, moss and tree 'stumps'. Large wood pieces for writing on and glass mailbox for guestbook cards. Maybe some candles

Gift table: ivory linens (I know we need this, but I have no idea what to do for it. I am still working on some sort of card box. I think there may be an extra crock, though, so perhaps we can do an arrangement for that table?)

*I am also throwing around the idea of having a table with pictures and things from Mike's parents and my dad. I don't know if I will be able to accomplish this in time, though!

Reception:
Large round tables with navy tablecloths with navy/white sm. checked overlay, white napkins, and dk. brown chivari chairs.

Escort cards: round table in foyer, covered with moss and tree 'stumps'. container holding tree branches dotted with blue flowers. Cards will be leaves cut from wood veneer, with wires attached. Half will be wired onto tree branches, half below on table (to make it easier to find them)

Centerpieces: Half of the tables will have a stoneware crock on a round twig mat with some moss, filled with blue and cream flowers, ferns, and branches with blue flowers, surrounded by scattered votives. The other half will have a large glass vase, filled with 3 pillar candles, moss, and maidenhair ferns (?) and/or small flowers, surrounded by moss (and flowers?). Smaller version of crock centerpiece for sweetheart table.

Favors/Place cards: Twig nest with place card attached will be at each places setting, on top of napkin. Nests will be filled with chocolate eggs.

Cake: Log slice for cake stand. Surrounded by moss, and possibly some small flowers.

Bouquets for back of bride and groom chairs: No actual ideas for these yet, but probably some ribbon and wreaths or sprays.

Can you picture it? I can! Yay!

Godspeed, my friends

2008-05-21T19:23:00.006-05:00

Well, after hours of calligraphy and hours of affixing stamps, our second (and hopefully, final) set of invitations are in the hands of the United States Postal Service.

The clerk thought I was odd for using vintage stamps. He thought I was cracked when I offered to hand-cancel them myself. I think taking the pictures put him over the edge. But he let me do all three, so I don't care.

I'll try to post more on my psuedo-calligraphy and the vintage stamps later, but for now, here's how they looked as I said goodbye.

Help me find a font, please!

2008-05-14T22:23:00.003-05:00

I am making the program covers out of wood veneer and I want to use my Gocco to print the fronts with something that looks like our initials carved into a tree/wood. I have tried drawing it (unsuccessfully, I might add), and I am thinking that I should try to find a pre-made font to use instead. I have searched dafont and veer, and haven't had any luck, so any other options would be welcomed!

Anyone have any suggestions for an initials-carved-in-a-tree-looking font?

Beary Time Consuming

2008-05-09T17:48:00.004-05:00

Oh, yeah...I also spent some time making this for our new niece, Michaela, instead of working on wedding stuff. But I think it was worth it!

Custom-patterned, alpaca hair teddy

I am especially proud of the embroidered nose, even if it took me two tries to get it right.

New and Improved!

2008-05-09T17:17:00.011-05:00

Yipeee! The new invites are here! The new invites are here!

(for comparison, here are the old ones)

This time around, we switched to the Feel Script for our names. Plus, we added a Welcome Party invite, with and all new illustration by the good folks at Oblation (and a cheesy poem by me).

Some people believe that I should have chosen to save money and go with less extravagant invitations this time around. Well, those people can kiss my bottom. Because those people didn't have their dream wedding cancelled at the last minute, for extrememly sad circumstances, nonetheless. Those people didn't spent months planning and researching invitations. And those people clearly don't appreciate the gorgeousness that is handmade paper, custom illustration, and delicious letterpress printing. As far as I am concerned, I have earned these, and Gosh Darnit, I am going to enjoy them!

Now I only have to address them and get them in the mail. The problem is that I am sorely lacking in time. I have been planning some mock (read: traced) calligraphy. But now I am wondering if it might just save my sanity to run them through the printer. Pros: less time and pretty final product in navy Feel Script goodness. Cons: I have always believed invitations should be hand-addressed (and so does my Grandmother). What do you all think?

Wow, has it really been over a month since I posted?!

2008-05-08T18:32:00.013-05:00

I definitely suck! In my defense, I have been try to actually get some things accomplished. I started working on the program covers, for one. And I have been spending a lot of time shopping online...Hmmmm, I guess that doesn't sound so productive, does it? Well, I also went to Chicago to visit two of my very best girlfriends. So that ate up some time...

Alright, I guess I don't really have a good excuse. I think the problem is that I have been procrastinating, so I don't actually have much to blog about. Here's an update on what has been accomplished, however:

I am back in contact with Jen, the bandleader for The Camaros, our swinging reception band. Have I mentioned that she is awesome? They learned a few songs just for us, including 'our song", "Dream A Little Dream." Of course, this means that I actually need to come up with a schedule for the reception so she knows when they will need to play the special songs. Plus, Mike and I need to go back for a few dance lessons, as we haven't rhumba'd since last June...

I had a phone conference with our amazing florist, who totally gets my changed vision in its new, "more woodland-y" form. She even had the idea of using mini potted maidenhair ferns! So excited!

(this is maidenhair fern...I heart it)

I cut out all of the wood veneer for the program covers and the table number/menu cards. Now I just need to get out the Gocco, and actually write the program. Oh, and find an officiant. Just a little detail, right.

(this is my inspiration, but mine will be less charred)

I decided to purchase some navy and white check fabric to make 90" table toppers, because I need pattern like it is a drug. Yes, you heard me. I am going to make 10+ table toppers. Because I am insane. I am also considering making my neice's flower girl dress. Again, insane.

(inspiration, but mine will be small checks or plaid, and navy)

I have decided against the Nicole Miller reception dress. It is just too boob-y. If anyone is interested in purchasing it, let me know. Otherwise, I'll deal with it after the wedding. So I still am on the hunt for a reception dress...

(For Sale)

I think I may have found a new dress for one of my BMs who needs a new one. My sister still hasn't found a new one yet. (They want new ones due to fit issues. I'm not making them because I am a crazy bridezilla, just so we're clear.)

The new invites are on the way here, so I am gearing up to get my (fake) calligraphy on. Plus I have beens stocking up on vintage stamps to address them with.

(stamps from ebay)

I purchased an adorable reproduction glass mailbox on ebay, for the guestbook cards.

I purchased a nylon chiffon petticoat, which is too short, but otherwise completely perfect, so I am also planning on buying a half slip and Frankensteining them together.

And I bought a cute umbrella, just in case it rains.

So I guess I am not so completely lazy after all! But there is still a lot to do... I'll try to post more details on some of these soon, but if you have questions or want more info, leave me a comment!

Good things come in short packages.

2008-04-05T10:56:00.023-05:00

I already have two wedding dresses (three if you count the beach one...), and I am not in the market for a third or fourth. But I've been keeping an eye on dresses at Nordstrom and such lately, since a few of my bridesmaids still need dresses (long story), and I have been noticing how many cute, short white dresses there are out there. I think short white wedding frocks are really modern and fresh. Some of these would be great for a courthouse affair, while others would lend themselves to beaches, gardens, or lofts. And even if you are planning to go long and formal for your wedding, several of these would be great for a rehearsal dinner.

David Meister Strapless Dress

Adrianna Papell Sweetheart Neck Dress

BCBG Max Azria Floral Burnout Dress

Teeze Me Eyelet Dress

Ralph Lauren Black Label 'Kayla' Shirtdress
(Imagine if you replaced the belt with a beaded/jeweled one? Or a silk sash?)

Phoebe One Shoulder Silk Dress

Michael Kors Floral Fil Coupe Dress

Lauren by Ralph Lauren 'Deidre' Shirtdress

JS Boutique Lace Sheath Dress
(Again, I'd replace the belt.)

Joie 'Eloise' Shift Dress

Eliza J Sleeveless Dot Dress

BCBG Max Azria Strapless Applique Dress

As U Wish Bow Dress

ABS Chiffon Babydoll Dress

Cynthia Steffe 'Ginny' Dress

Versace 'Lucy' Day Dress

Gentlemen Prefer Booze

2008-03-31T21:45:00.001-05:00

I was rifling through some papers today, looking for stashed tax info, and I came across the receipt for one of Mike's Christmas gifts. I remembered that I intended to share it, since I think it would be a great gift for groomsmen.

I chose this item for Mike because 1. He loves his scotch (or Jack Daniels for that matter), and 2. We have very little cabinet space, so he tends to leave the bottle out on the kitchen counter. I thought a classy, monogrammed crystal decanter would make us both happy. But let me tell you, I had a considerably difficult time finding good quality, reasonably-priced, able to be engraved, non-cut crystal, liquor (not wine) decanters. When I finally found Tom's Glass Works on line, I felt like I had struck gold.

Now, I don't love the website and I don't love all the products, but trust me when I tell you that this guy has the best selection of simple crystal decanters that I could find. And I love that you have the option to get either traditional hand engraving (all done by Tom himself) or sandblasting. Oh, and the very best part? His prices are really reasonable, especially compared to most of the crystal whiskey decanters out there. (Yeah, Michael C. Fina, I'm talking to you.)

Mike's decanter is even nicer than I expected in person, and he absolutely loves it. If we hadn't already bought flasks for his guys (are you noticing a pattern?), I would have definitely gotten them each their own personalized decanter. There are enough to choose from that you could even get each fella a different style if you felt so inclined.

And yes, Tom has beer mugs, wine glasses, and other such alcohol-related items as well.