Can't Make Up My Mind

 So I really thought I had my invitations picked out until I really started doing the math on the prices my graphic designer/printer gave me.  I just couldn't pay as much as they were asking for it and it not be completely what I wanted. I wasn't in love with what they did so I continued my search.  Mind you, I've never had a hard time with invitations before...parties, birthdays, work events... those have been easy to decide on...but for this wedding, it's a different story.

I was talking to my Matron of Honor, Suzanne, one day about the invitations and she asked me if I had checked out Zazzle.com. It's a website that does custom you name it on there... from business cards to invitations to tshirts and even phone cases, you can design just about anything you want there.  I probably spent a good 6 hours on that site that day looking at all my different options from pre-made designs to create your own from scratch, I tried it all.  And I finally found two designs I was really happy with. But then it happened again, I couldn't make up my mind. I asked Dave for input and he kept telling me to go with what I liked and that was the problem, I liked both.  Then he suggested I e-mail all the girls in the wedding party (including our moms) to get feedback on all three invitations (the two I designed on Zazzle and the one from the printers).  That was the best decision ever.  Pretty much everyone had the same answer, they liked the design from the graphic designer but they really liked one of the ones from Zazzles.   So today I ordered 10 of the invitations to see how they turn out before I place a huge order (we're talking almost 200 invitations!)

Next on the to-do list --- Guest Favors! Dave and I are both fans of koozies. To be honest, Dave has an old laundry bag full of koozies he's collected from over the years. And Dave doesn't go anywhere without one and it's usually his Zac Brown Band koozie.
So we want to give our guests something we enjoy so they can remember being part of our special day for years to come.  I saw a design of a koozie on facebook one day that I really liked and knew that's exactly what I wanted for ours... but then once again, the search began for that piece of art work.  Being from South Carolina, I love the Palmetto Tree. It represents where I'm from, where Dave's lived most of his life, and the Southerners that we are. And today I finally found that design on a website......
It's the Palmetto Tree & Crescent Moon with wedding rings hanging from the moon!! I want to add our names and wedding date and then it will be complete!

On to side notes not pertaining to the wedding:  I'm back to work. I started this week as a producer at WCSC Live 5 News in Charleston.  They are the CBS station in the area and the #1 news station in the market. I've been hired to start on the weekend show but I was told they don't keep people on the same show for too long because things start to become habits and the best product isn't being put on air.

Softball season is finally over.  Dave's co-ed team finished 3rd in their division. So a big congrats goes out to Sons of Pitches for a great season.  The men's team is done as well...not as great of a season but there's always next year.

Oh and we can't forget what a wonderful weekend it was for Carolina Football! The Gamecocks are the SEC East Champions, after beating Florida in the Swamp. Congrats to Steve Spurrier, Steve Jr. and the whole team for a job well done!

Until next time.....

Paper and Programs

Well I'm finally moving forward (at least I hope) with the invitations. Dave and I finally got the chance last week to head back over to West Ashley to take a look at the options for font/design for our invitations.

This is what I came up with on some website since I couldn't find anything on any wedding site that I liked. I love the colors and the design at the top... the lines and circle ...that's what sorta gave me the inspiration for the wedding cake design. I love the back too....I put one of my favorite pictures of us on there along with our website cause that site has so much information for our guests... hotel info, airport info, driving directions (including gate information since it's on a military base) as well as things to do while in town for all of the out of town guest.


I ordered one copy of this invite along with a matching RSVP to a print shop in West Ashley to see what they could do with it. Luckily they have a graphic design who could help improve my design. We decided we needed to change to font to make it more formal and less normal party invites. So after 6 or 7 designs and formats, I decided on this one here.... I love the design they came up.

Graphic Artist's Design

I think the top goes really well with the font. They still got to design the back but now I'm deciding if I still want to keep the picture on there or just be blank. They also designed a match RSVP card which will be like a postcard so it's easy for the guest to fill out and throw back in their mailbox and not have to worry about the envelope. Plus-- it saves on money on my part since it cost less to send a postcard.

I've also had a lot of time on my hands lately which has given me the opportunity for some DYI wedding projects and the once I recently worked on and figured out is the paddle fan programs for the ceremony. It's something I've always said I wanted...but of course to order them online, they are so expensive. So after lots of googling (which I love to do) I found a template for the paddle programs fans. (Here's the template: http://www.wedding-paper-products.com/Fan-Programs.php)
So after a little time working and putting it together and getting some supplies..... here's what I came up with....I'm pretty proud of myself.

I had a few issues with the text and picture and wrapping the text but I finally figured it out. There's also a back to it but a) It's completed with the rest of the wedding party and we haven't finished asking everyone so if I post it, it will give it away and b) I can't show you everything for the wedding..otherwise there won't be any surprises come the wedding day. It's pretty inexpensive to make them your self too... I think I paid $2.17 for 75 paddle sticks (or jumbo Popsicle sticks), the rolls of ribbon were on sale 99 cents each (normally $1.29) and then the printing. I printed this one at home but will have the real ones printed professionally.

I'm pretty proud of myself and what I've made and look forward to being even more creative in the coming months.... 199 days to go!