I'm Officially A Mailbox Stalker!

The wedding invitations are out in the mail and hopefully on people's fridges! I'm so in love with them and apparently other people are in love with them too!!

After all the trouble I had making up my mind, finding something I liked and was happy with..I'm loving my decision. We've gotten a lot of compliments on the addressing as well that Dave's mom did. We've even been asked if she would do it as a side job for some I know getting married later this year.

Now that they've been mailed out, I've become even more obsessed with checking the mail than before. We only have one key to our mailbox and I just keep it in my car. I'm now to the point when I get to the main street we live off of, I'm grabbing the key, and going straight to the mailbox when I get home.  We've already gotten 3 or 4 RSVP's back...but today...8 of them...and they were all yes's! I'm so excited!
Some people haven't written little notes saying "We wouldn't miss it." I've had a bunch of people write on my wall letting me know they got the invite in the mail and are looking for something to wear! I love it!! It really just makes me smile!

We even got our wedding gift today! My good friend and mentor from my first news job, Ashley, won't be able to attend because of May being a ratings month in TV (I really didn't even think about it when we sent the date...opps!)  I got home after excitement of 8 RSVP's and walk in the door and there's a box from Target inside. I opened it, and inside a beautiful wrapped gift in Target's logo print on white paper (who knew they had some awesome gift wrap) and inside.. a set of 4 beer glasses!! We love them!! Dave is so excited.. it's one of the things he wanted since he loves beer! Thanks Yarchin! Love ya lots!

 As for the Checklist....it's almost all done!! We got so much done the past week.... Dave's ring has been ordered and is already in!  6 guys have been measured for their tuxes...just waiting on one more. It's all the small things.. music list, picture list, download music I've already selected.  I got to order sand for the sand ceremony. I found pink sand but can't find orange similar to it. It's not really sand.. it's more like thick tiny rocks... I guess that's a good way to explain it. =)  

We should get our guestbook from our photographer this week. She told me she would mail it today. She loves the way it turned out and now I can't wait to see it!!


Need to Do:

  PAY OFF VENDORS

 Meet with Carol for catering 

·            Update flower list with Sandra

·             Download wedding ceremony music  <-- started

·             Meet with DJ – list of “to play” and “not to play” songs

·              Measurements for Guy Tuxs <---6 Guys Measured...1 More to go...

        Make Appointment for Alterations

        Have beads fixed on dress <- Pick up next week!!!!

·              Bridesmaid Order Dresses 

·              Must take picture list < -- started working on

        Send Envelopes to Susanne to be addressed

·              Go to post office to weigh invitation

·              Schedule hair trial <-- had to reschedule, made appointment for Bridal portraits

·              Figure out who’s doing my makeup

·              Apply For Marriage License

       Send photographer disc of pics for guest book  <-- Photographer has ordered!

       Water Bottle Labels

P     Put Together Invites

       Mail Out Invites

   Need to Make:

·              Card Box 

        Rhinestone Cake Topper

        Tears Of Joy Packets 

·              Programs

·              “Day Of” wear

·              Emergency Kit

En    Envelope Liners

        I Spy Game Cards

      

   Need to Buy/Order:

·            Clear Labels for Return Address

·              Postage for invitations

·              Pick out other gifts for Bridal Party

·              Sand/ Sand Ceremony Frame set

·              Dave’s wedding band

·              Garter

·              Sparklers, Ribbons & Container

·              Pen for guest book

·              Koozies 

·              Parasols 

·              Flutes & serving set <-- Mom ordered!

·              Solemates – heel covers

Until next time....  1 month, 4 weeks and 1 day to Mrs.!

The Road To The Aisle

Things are really starting to come together.. I know I just blogged the other day but I've gotten so much done since then.  I think it helps I've only worked 2 of the last 6 days.  (I had a normal weekend off then got back on my regular schedule, so I worked Monday & Tuesday this week, and was off again on Wednesday & Thursday.)  Anyways...

I wanted to share what I've gotten done.  One of the big checks... Dave finished our photo card box.  I wanted to post pictures and instructions on how I did it since so many knotties on The Knot boards have been asking, but I can't find the pictures I took of Dave working on it when here started...So instead here's a link to the blog I followed....The Road To The Aisle We did just about everything the same, but instead of using L Brackets, we used Hing Brackets. I hope this helps if you want to do the project. It's a lot of fun and is a way to get the fiance' involved.

Another thing started and almost done, the wedding invitations!!! Dave's mom did a wonderful job with the calligraphy . She brought them last week and I couldn't wait to get the liners done...so right after they left on Sunday I got started!  She has 20 envelopes she still has to send to me for last minute additions and corrections.  Once I was done with the liners, I couldn't wait.... I went ahead and added in all the invites. 

Then yesterday Dave and I went and had the direction cards printed up. Since we're getting married on a military base, there's some extra steps our guest will have to take to get to the ceremony. That plus the address for the Officer's Club doesn't come up on Google Maps or in my GPS, so we wanted to make sure everyone knew where they were going. After that, we went and got the invitation weighed and purchased stamps for the invites and RSVP postcards... Don't get me started on those stamps.... Let's just say the post card stamp prices are going up during the month of April, right in the middle of my RSVP timeline. So the cards have two stamps..one with a polar bear..the other with a tiffany lamp. Not my dream stamps for my wedding invites. Anyways... I got home and couldn't wait (once again) so I started putting stamps on the RSVP cards and matching the cards with the correct envelopes. We numbered our RSVP cards to match up with our guest list in case someone forgets to put their name.  Now I will finish up the rest next week with one of my awesome bridesmaids, Melissa.  I can't wait to get the invites out in the mail and on top of that, start getting RSVPs back!!

Another project I started and I'm so excited about is our "I Spy" game/cards for the reception.  I just came across this the other day and think it would be fun and super cute. The wonderful Martha Stewart started the trend..
You have cards at all the tables and you just have random things from your reception for people to take pictures of, like "The Photographer Taking a Picture," "The MOH Helping the Bride," " The Newlyweds Talking With Guest," etc etc  I'm excited about it!



I'm so excited the big day is almost here. I can't wait to celebrate let alone go on my awesome honeymoon!




Taking Care of The List:

Need to Do:

  PAY OFF VENDORS
 Meet with Carol for catering 

·            Update flower list with Sandra

·             Download wedding ceremony music  <-- started

·             Meet with DJ – list of “to play” and “not to play” songs

·              Measurements for Guy Tuxs <--Papa & Dave have been measured, other guys have been sent info

        Make Appointment for Alterations

        Have beads fixed on dress <-- dress is dropped off

·              Bridesmaid Order Dresses < -- DONE!

·              Must take picture list < -- started working on

        Send Envelopes to Susanne to be addressed

·              Go to post office to weigh invitation

·              Schedule hair trial <-- going to see my stylist next week

·              Figure out who’s doing my makeup <-- My good friend Brittany has agreed to this, along with doing hair

·              Apply For Marriage License

       Send photographer disc of pics for guest book  <-- going out this weekend

       Water Bottle Labels

P     Put Together Invites

       Mail Out Invites

   Need to Make:

·              Card Box 

        Rhinestone Cake Topper

        Tears Of Joy Packets 

·              Programs

·              “Day Of” wear

·              Emergency Kit

En    Envelope Liners

        I Spy Game Cards

      

   Need to Buy/Order:

·            Clear Labels for Return Address

·              Postage for invitations

·              Pick out other gifts for Bridal Party

·              Sand/ Sand Ceremony Frame set

·              Dave’s wedding band

·              Garter

·              Sparklers, Ribbons & Container

·              Pen for guest book

·              Koozies 

·              Parasols 

·              Flutes & serving set <-- mom is taking care of

·              Solemates – heel covers

It's Becoming A Reality

     It's all starting to finally become real now that I've had my first bridal shower.
     Last weekend, my best friend and matron of honor Suzanne hosted an "Around The Clock Shower" for me at her mom's house.  It was amazing and turned out so well.  Each person was assigned a certain time to buy a gift for and we got a wide variety of things. From bathroom towels to wine glasses and to a chip-n-dip serving set, everything was great.   Each guest was also asked to bring a Christmas ornament for our tree. We got some really cool ones... From a monogram "T" to Santa Cupcakes as well as an engagement ring ornament. Suzanne's ornament was really cool.

     She ordered one from personalizationmall.com and had one of our engagement pictures put on it.  It's so cool! Once I get more pictures, I will be sure to upload them... To all those who attended, thank you so much! I'm so glad each of you were able to attend and be a part of the day!

     As for planning, things are coming along. We hit the 5 month countdown tomorrow! AHHH!!! My how time is going by so quickly.  Wedding invitations are ordered and have been delivered.  Dave's mom will be down this weekend for Christmas and she will be addressing them for us, so that is almost completely done.  After all the stress I dealt with to find invitations I really loved and was happy with, I'm so glad it's over!  I'm also adding a little personal touch to the invitations as well so that's another DIY project I've started and will finish once all the envelopes are addresses.

     The programs have also been finalized. I tweaked my design I previously posted on here.. (PAPER AND PROGRAMS) I'm really happy with the new layout and look forward to working on those. So now I will have to get those printed to start putting them together.

     My first bridesmaid has ordered her dress and it's already in! Snaps to Amanda!! YAY! I'm so happy.  Things are finally coming together... One down.... six to go!

     On a side note, Happy Anniversary to Dave and I! Tomorrow celebrates two years together...it's flown by yet it seems like it's been forever! Here's to many more years together!


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!

More Wedding Planning

Well well.. time is drawing nearer! Less than 9 months to the big day! WOW!!! So exciting yet lots to do.
We've gotten a few things taken care of...small things but it's done.

A few weeks ago, my mom was in town for the weekend.  We had a softball team gathering on Saturday to kick off the upcoming season and celebrate Dave's team winning a championship, but on Sunday we spent the day picking out songs for the reception.  Dave had no idea it took so much to plan music.  He didn't know you had to pick all these songs out for everything like cake cutting, garter toss, entrance, etc etc.  So we probably spent about 4 hours deciding on songs.  We had a few disagreements, especially when it came down to the cake cutting song... click here to hear what Dave's choice was...Needless to say, I was totally against it and that's not what was chosen.

This past weekend, Dave's mom came into town from Vermont so we could do some rehearsal dinner planning.  We aren't really sure what we want, so we looked at all our our options. We started in the Vista and checked out Blue Marlin, Liberty Tap Room, then we decided to head over to California Dreaming, as that restaurant is one of the first places we had a date. We started thinking we wanted some more casual, so we started looking at catering options.  Dave loves BBQ and of course, there are some great BBQ places in Columbia.  We went by Doc's Barbeque and really enjoyed what they had to offer. Besides BBQ, they offer a wide variety besides BBQ.  Before heading home, we checked out Dianne's on Devine  but thought that was too much more than we wanted.  We never came down to a final decision, but we our final choices are California Dreaming and BBQ catering.

One of the things I've had the hardest time with ....invitations.  I can't find one that I'm in love with.  I finally found a website when I could design whatever I wanted and I love what I came up with.  I ordered a copy of it and it came in the mail earlier this week and I was disappointed with the paper it was printed on.  Now I'm gonna have to see if a printing company can make them for us.


Until next time....