Oops! Forgot about that!

It's less than three weeks to go and getting down to the wire. I thought I had everything under control and ready to go. UNTIL we did a list on Chris and the Crew about the latest in weddings. One of them was napkins with trivia on them instead of the regular cocktail napkins with the bride and groom names with the wedding date. Huh! I never got any of those...completely slipped my mind. I think I thought about them briefly and decided they weren't necessary but yesterday I suddenly wanted them really bad! So I put an order in today and assume they will hopefully be here in time for the wedding. At the very least it will be nice for me and Joe to have a couple of them to keep. Meanwhile, I have all my lists with everything I need to do leading up to, the day before and the day of. I have my lists with everything that needs to go to the venue the day before and everything I will need for the day of. I am in pretty good shape. There are still some things that I need to do but the list is getting smaller which is a relief. I'm in the midst of trying to decide everything to put in the hotel welcome baskets (or in our case...welcome beach pail). The dollar store is turning out to be my best friend in this department! Anything you forgot about or didn't get that you ended up regretting? Please let me know. Thanks!

The wedding manicure...

I used to be a manicurist so I am obviously very into nails...particularly my own. I've always taken very good care of my nails and keep them polished and hopefully looking nice. So obviously I want them to look nice on the day of the wedding especially since they will be in so many pictures with the rings and all. I have been keeping them trimmed so they won't be too long for the day of or start breaking and then be too short. I have put a lot of thought into this...lol. Like I said...I have always been into my nails. I have always been a fan of the french manicure...I just love the classic, elegant look to it. So I always assumed that is what I would get for the day I get married. BUT since the bridesmaids are wearing red it would be fine if I got them red instead of the french. Which is also nice because it's not what every other bride does. I really am still leaning toward the french but there are a couple of issues that makes getting the perfect french manicure difficult. I would definitely want it to be airbrushed because that just looks nicer but if you get this done on a regular basis you know that often the white tips start almost immediately to get cracks in them. I'm not sure how much of an issue this will be when seeing them up close in pictures but it is a concern. I would also want to get a french done at home the day before the wedding because I don't know any salons down there and don't want to go somewhere I've never been before not knowing how good a job they do. That would also mean potentionally chipping the polish since we have to take a ton of stuff to the wedding venue the day before so I would be lifting a lot of boxes and such. Or I could just take the easy route and get red. Should I go with what I really want or with what is easier?

It's already started! I have to sit with who?

I'm trying to get the seating arrangements worked out and obviously you want to use as few tables as possible so it's been some work figuring out who will sit where. I've already had requests from people of those they do want to sit with and those they don't want to sit with. Ironically it all seems to be my side of the family that is causing the issues. I wrote down the tables for Joe's side and he's like...oh yeah...those are definitely the right spots for everybody. I know some people will end up being upset with where they are sitting or sitting with but you really do have to mix some different groups together or they will be 25 tables of 12 with 4 people sitting at them. One of my least favorite parts of the wedding planning process. Did anyone get people who were really mad about where they sat?

Who gets what???

I've been talking with some people about who needs to be tipped on the day of the wedding and who doesn't. I think everyone assumes they will be tipped. Some have said you don't have to tip the DJ but I do think the DJ typically gets a tip. Also...we are paying a maitre d charge but I believe they are also expecting a tip at the end of the night. If they do get tipped...any idea on how much you are supposed to give them? I am also having my hairdresser come to the hotel room and do all the girls hair in the wedding party. She will also need a tip....but will it be the usual 20 percent you would pay at a salon? I am also not sure what is appropriate for drivers of the limo/bus. And I believe there will also be a transportation coordinator at the venue organizing the transportation back to the hotel. How much do I give this guy? LOL...it seems like it never ends. Please let me know if I forgot someone and help me out with some amounts. Much appreciated! And no...I'm not tipping the photographer...he's getting enough!!!

Why do all the decisions seem so major???

So I'm beginning to figure out why brides become so stressed out. As the time gets closer and closer and I try to figure out all the little details...they don't seem so little anymore. My latest little decision that is turning into a big one is whether there will be a runner for the bridal party to walk on or not. Seems like a simple yes/no question, right? WRONG! LOL...maybe I am turning into a bridezilla but the ceremony is outside and the walkway leading up to the arbor is cobblestone type tile. It looks really beautiful and I would prefer to forget the runner altogether. Not to mention I am told the runners are very hard to manage since it is outside and there is usually some sort of breeze. But I am very worried about my dress getting dirty. It will most definitely be dragging on the cobblestone and it is outside so I'm sure there will be some dirt and sand to contend with. It is going to be the underneath that is dragging but it will need to be bustled later and I'm just concerned there will be dirt on it. It is white after all...lol. What do you think? Runner or no runner?

Wedding gifts! Already!!!

When I got home from work yesterday there was a big package waiting for me outside my door. I saw right away that it said it was from the store where we had registered for gifts. I happen to know my shower is not for another month so I was a bit confused. I wondered whether I should wait to open it to see if it was some type of mistake. Then I figured...there is no way I am going to be able to look at this big box and not see what is inside! Turns out it is from Joe's sister and she wrote a note and everything so it looks like she meant to have it shipped to the house. I'm not sure if this means she will not be attending the shower. Regardless, we are thrilled and appreciate her generosity. BUT should I have investigated first before opening? Is my impatience showing bad manners? I don't want to be rude...but c'mon...it was a big huge box with what I figured were gifts inside!

Linen Suits!

We finally got a chance to check out options for what the groom and his groomsmen will be wearing for the wedding. We had thought that we would probably go with a classic black tux but we had considered having them all just wear a vest without a jacket to make it look more casual for the waterfront ceremony. I had thought about the beige slacks with just a button down shirt but I wasn't sure I was crazy about that look. That may be just a little too informal. I was also concerned anything light may not look good with Joe's light colored skin. (Although he is getting a nice tan now that he has a shore house!) The salesperson suggested a linen suit since we will be waterfront...put a jacket on him....and it's perfect! He looked so nice! I think all the guys are going to look so great and am so glad this was a suggested. I'm also so glad to have one more think to tick off the list!

What does the tux look like? We don't know!

Maybe it's just me since I haven't done this before but is it typical for a tuxedo rental place to not have any samples for you to try on before you order the tuxes for a wedding? Joe and I went to a place about a month or so ago and they had him try on a few options...but didn't have a very big selection. We went to another location yesterday thinking we would be making the final decision. It seems they don't have anything for Joe to try on to see how he looks in his potential wedding tux. REALLY? How is this possible? This is a pretty big chain we were at. We were both so stunned we literally just sat there staring at each other. Joe finally said we would have to think it over and we left. I'm extremely annoyed and find it to be unprofessional. We were really hoping to wrap this up yesterday so we could tell everyone what they needed to do. Is this normal? Are we really supposed to pick something for the wedding day that we have no idea how it looks?

The non-traditional route

I am not following tradition when it comes to a couple of things that have to do with the wedding. I am not wearing a veil...just a flower in my hair. We will not be throwing the bouquet or tossing the garter. But probably the most extreme aspect are the shoes I and the bridal party will be wearing. When I first got engaged a friend told me there was a new trend that brides would wear shoes the color of the bridesmaids dresses. I thought that was a great idea (I've always been very into shoes) and had determined the color would be red. I thought that would look so great with the white dress...the shoes would really pop! Then we changed the color of the dresses to brown...so I thought maybe I should do leopard print. I felt that was going a little too far from tradition but the more I thought about it the more I liked it because I am a big fan of leopard print. Well, then we changed the dresses back to red and I was disappointed that I couldn't do the leopard print anymore. It would just seem too out there. UNTIL...I found shoes that are leopard with red trim. They are platform pumps and the heels, platform and toes are red with the rest leopard. I am somewhat nervous about reactions from people when they see my shoes. I have already had people see a picture of them and respond with disbelief that they were my wedding shoes and someone laughed out loud right in front of me. I know it's different but I think that is what I like so much about it. I've made my shoes very personal to my style and taste. And I won't look like every other bride in the feet area anyway! I also decided to expand this into the bridal party. The bridesmaids will be wearing nude colored shoes with their red dresses and the flower girl I have decided is going to wear bright red shoes. I think it's a great way to mix things up and be different but I do worry that people's reactions to it will be bad. People are surprisingly very vocal about things they don't like in your wedding.

Like I said...I have decided to go a non-traditional route when it comes to the shoes and I just have to take what people say and not worry about it....BUT...just wondering....do you think it's all too crazy? Have you seen something completely different at a wedding and what did you think of it? Thanks!

Three months to go!

Well, the wedding is exactly 3 months from today so I figured this would be a good day to take stock of what still needs to be done. We are a little behind on some things....such as...we still haven't picked the tuxes. We have looked at them and really do know what we are getting...we just haven't made the official reservations and spread the info to the groomsmen as of yet. I still have to pick the flowers but my friend who owns a flower shop has assured me that I still have plenty of time.

We are in the process of preparing the invitations for mailing...but we still have a month. Then I really do have to wait for responses to start preparing seating charts and writing out placement cards. I do think I am going to make the wedding an event page on Facebook though where people can RSVP. I think that will be so easy people will do it right away. That is my hope anyway.

Still a little work to do with the favors and centerpieces but I'm not panicking yet. My dress is scheduled to come in this month and then I will start the fittings. I am also trying to decide for sure the two pairs of shoes I will be wearing that day before the fittings start. The bridesmaid dresses and flower girls dresses are already in.

I think I'm in pretty good shape. Does it seem like I am where I should be or is there something big I am forgetting? Did you stay up to date with everything or did you end up having to rush and put that much more stress on yourself. That is what I am trying to avoid!

Chocolate overload???

Joe and I went for our cake tasting yesterday and I didn't realize all the options we would have. The cake is actually included with the venue that we chose for the wedding so I guess I thought that it would a choice of pound cake or chocolate and that would be it. BUT NO...we got to pick the type of cake with a filling or topping and then the icing on top of that. Plus, we are getting a four tier cake and we can mix up any of the tiers. So we ended up going with 2 tiers having white cake with a chocolate mousse topping and the other 2 tiers with chocolate cake with a strawberry filling. Now, I'm not much of a chocolate cake fan but I have to tell you that the mousse topping was incredible! A very light chocolate flavor but it didn't occur to me until Dave pointed out today that every dessert now has chocolate in it. Now I'm worried there will be people who don't like chocolate (are there such people?) that will be disappointed. I know that Dave is just trying to make me crazy but does he have a point? Did I include too much chocolate in the dessert selection? Should I call the bakery and change one of the layers to no chocolate?

Bridal Party gifts

As we were mentioning this morning on Chris and the Crew...I haven't purchased any bridal party gifts yet and am still stuck as to what I will get them. The guys are pretty easy...it's the girls. I have my sister and her two young daughters in the wedding. Not really sure what to get them...especially with the vast difference in ages. We also have to come up with something for the ring bearer who is 4. Any idea's would be greately appreciated! Thank you....

Wedding Weather!

It's Memorial Day weekend...the unofficial start to summer...and my wedding is in the summer. We are now close enough to be in the unofficial season that our wedding will take place! (Please forgive me...I'm getting ready to head to the shore for the first time this year and am quite giddy!) The weather is warmer and it reminds me of the great summer ahead and the topper at the end of summer. We got the flip flops I had ordered for the guests yesterday and I really am running out of room for all these supplies. I also received the shoes I ordered to wear for the wedding. They have five inch heels so it's good that I will have all summer to practice. Hope you have a great holiday weekend and be safe out there!!!

My wedding coordinator what???

I definitely had a bridezilla moment yesterday. I was trying to get in touch with the wedding coordinator at the venue where the wedding is taking place via e-mail when I got a response that said something along the lines of...I'm so sorry Wendy, I left there over a month ago. I'm surprised no one has reached out to you yet. Ah...you're surprised! Well, panic stricken is not even the word to use of what came over me. We just loved the woman in charge of all our wedding details. So I call them and of course the person now in charge is in a meeting and will have to call me back. So I stare at the phone for only about a half hour before the call back comes. I'm sure I sounded very stressed when I first started speaking to him but I have to say he was very nice and apologetic about everything. He seems to be bending over backwards to try to make things right which I appreciate and we are going in about two weeks from now to go over the details. I guess these things happen but it was a big disappointment to me. I'm sure the people in charge now will be fine and everything will be just as I imagined it. I was just somewhat shocked that I wasn't told and sorry I had to find out in the way I did. Now I know why they say brides have so much stress! Did anything like this happen to you while preparing for your wedding? If so...did you turn in to bridezilla like me (albeit for a short time) or did you just roll with it?

Wishing my whole summer away!

I think I have made a mistake in planning our wedding day for the end of summer...I think I will wish the whole summer away because I can't wait for the wedding. And I LOVE summer! Granted...time will pass at its own pace regardless but I can't help but think about last summer at the shore and how I treasured each and every moment...took everything in and made sure to experience my time at the shore. I hope it won't be different this year...but I think excitement over the wedding will build with each passing month. We are already under the 4 month mark...I can't believe it. Hope you all get some time to relish the moments of a wonderful summer ahead!

Wrong Dress???

I'm beginning to wonder if I picked the wrong wedding dress. Now don't get me wrong...I absolutely love the dress I chose and can't wait to wear it but it was over what I had budgeted by two hundred dollars and that doesn't include alterations. The problem I have is that the first time I went dress shopping I went to a place that has a ton of dresses and had a whole entourage of people with a bunch of conflicting opinions. As this was my first time out I wasn't quite sure what to expect and I ended up trying on about 10 dresses that day and I think a lot of the options got lost in the maze of dresses. I took pictures and I do remember looking through the pictures and seeing this one dress and remembering how much I liked it when I tried it on but certain others in the group had already decided on what dress they liked and tried to talk me out of any dress besides that one.

When I tried on the dress I ultimately ordered I was by myself and really did fall in love with it immediately. I still look at pictures of myself in the first dress and sometimes wonder if I should have gone with it. It was less than half the cost of the one I did end up getting. Maybe I should just delete the picture and stop looking at it??? Has anyone ever questioned their choice of dress after the fact and if so....do you think you made the wrong decision? I really don't think I made the wrong choice but I could have saved a whole bunch of cash on a dress I may have been almost as happy with. I could say that money shouldn't be a consideration but I certainly wouldn't have spent 10 or 15 thousand on a dress which can be done easily so I guess money really is somewhat of a factor.

Our version of a guest book

Our wedding is beach themed or waterfront themed as it will actually take place on the bay and not the ocean. But we are keeping everything beach and water themed and I saw an idea in a wedding magazine at a beach wedding that had a big water jug in place of a guest book. Guests filled out a piece of paper with words of wisdom for the bride and groom and then dropped it into the jug. I saw a really cool glass barrel that I thought would fit in with the theme really well and ordered it. It was pretty pricey but hey...you only get married once, right??? Turns out there is a major problem with the idea....there is no way to get the papers out of the glass barrel! It just has a hole at the top and it will be next to impossible to get the pieces of paper out. I'm wondering now if I should bag the whole idea, do it anyway and potentially never get to read the advice people write or maybe break the barrel afterwards. Hmm...not sure which way I want to go with this. Any ideas on how to get pieces of paper out of a small hole??? LOL...that just sounded strange....

Flip flops finally!

I seem to make things much harder than they actually have to be. I plan to get a bunch of flip flops for my guests at the wedding so they can slip into something comfy once their shoes start killing their feet. I've been waiting for a couple of months to find out about the big flip flop sale at one of the clothing stores around...only to find out...they have imposed a limit of 5 flip flops! What!!! That is not even worth my time. So I decided to look around at some dollar stores to see what I could find there. And alas...the first place I looked is selling them by the case...at one dollar a piece...in an array of colors, designs and sizes. I waited all this time needlessly I guess...but so excited to get this taken care of...yay! Now, I just have to figure out where to put the huge box about the come full of flip flops...the extra room (which really isn't extra...I use it everyday) is pretty full of wedding stuff at this point. Who knew there was so much you had to get?! I just love the idea of supplying flip flops to guests who may have aching feet and I thank my dear friend Wendy for giving me the idea. Was there something special you did for your guests or were you at a wedding where something like this was done and it really stuck out in your mind?

Wedding breakfast

This morning on the air they were talking about having a wedding breakfast/brunch on the day after the wedding. I have had a couple of people say to me that since we are having the wedding out of town and many people will be staying at a hotel that it is expected that we provide them with breakfast? Is it expected, really? In talking with the people at the hotel we chose we had lobbied for a free breakfast and they did offer us a one or the other type of deal. We could get the free breakfast but we had to guarantee 30 guests. Now, I'm pretty sure we will end up with 30 plus rooms being booked but I wasn't crazy about making a guarantee. The other option was the room rate would be discounted by 15 dollars....which seems to be a lot less money. So we decided to offer the cheaper room rate. Now I'm back to worrying about whether I should be providing breakfast for the guests. The option of a brunch somewhere is really out of the question since no one in our families are in the position to host such a thing and the wedding already has Joe and I over our budget. Do you think it is expected that the bride and groom provide breakfast when they have guests stay at a hotel?

Wedding Shoes

I found a pair of shoes I would like to wear for the wedding but they are pretty expensive. So I started looking around online for cheaper options and after a lot of searching I found shoes that appear to be the same at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure these aren't the same brand as I originally saw but that doesn't matter to me as long as they look the same. But I am somewhat worried that I may not get what was in the picture. It is a foreign website that I had to order them from and the whole thing seems a little sketchy to me. I am worried I may not even receive anything at all! But I am hoping and dreaming of the day my shoes get delivered to me and they will be the exact shoes that I am expecting. I'm also checking my credit card account constantly to make sure any additional charges are popping up. I'm very nervous that I won't get anything at all or they will be a completely different shoe but I guess that is the chance I have taken. Have you ever ordered something from an online site where things just didn't seem right?

Four months to go!

It's coming up on the four month mark until the wedding and the time really is flying by pretty quickly. I think I have most things in order. I have practically everything I need for the wedding except a couple of things. We still need to figure out which tuxes we want for the guys. I still need to pick out flowers and we need to visit the bakery for a cake tasting. I have the favors and most of the little things needed for the day of. I do still have to have the run through for my hair as well. But that can wait a bit.

I have been obssessing over my shoes as of late. I have a really unique pair of shoes picked out and unfortunately I can only get them online. I plan to order them in the next few days. Hopefully they will come in quickly and actually fit because my dress is supposed to be ready in the beginning of June and I need them for the first fitting. But the shoes are definitely not the typical bridal shoes...apparently a new trend is for the bride to wear the color shoes that her bridesmaids dresses are. I have put an even further twist on this. Hopefully I will be able to order the shoes soon. What type of shoes did you wear to your wedding or have you seen brides wear that were somewhat different from typical bridal shoes?