The caterer is the last major hurdle we need to tackle. The proposal I received was great, except for the price tag. It was almost double what we can afford. I'm going to try to trim things down, but I'm now officially terrified that this isn't going to work. We have to have food at the reception, and with the downright damned attitude to have the location we wanted, we have to use this caterer. There is no other venue.
I think, though, if I work with Nate to pin down a firmer budget, I can make this work. I've already found a way to cut almost $1000 from the proposal, for the simple fact that I didn't like the food in that selection. Now, I need to trim at least $1000 more while still having enough food for everyone *and* keeping within our budget...AND convincing Nate that I can do it all.
I hope I can do it all. I need to be able to figure this out, and I need to make this work.
I've officially found the downside to doing this ourselves without any financial help.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I'm Addicted to TackyWeddings.com!
This tacky little princess was found on TackyWeddings.com in an article I'm assuming was republished from the UK Daily Mail last October. Seriously...just...OH MY GOD. Between CakeWrecks and this website, I'm not getting anything accomplished. Honestly, though, if you want the whole scoop on the UK's very own Lil Miss Tacky, click her pic to go to the article at TW. Or, click here. Either way, go. Read about the...festivities. Just..wow. That's all I can come up with for this one. Wow.
Mini Update
So, I'm now expecting a proposal from Cameron Mitchell to work up a rough estimate of what they can do for us. We're still being a bit "meh" as far as specifics go when it comes to the catering. We know we want food and we want it buffet style. That's about the extent of it.
Nate has unofficially picked his other two groomsmen. He needs to ask these two guys if they'll do it, but he's being a major whiny jerk about it. I'm tempted to just call them and ask them myself...but he doesn't want me to do that for the simple fact that I would go bridezilla on him and override his best man choice.
Did I mention that his best friend and I don't get along?
Anyhow, that's where I'm sitting right now. Not much progress, really, but enough to make me feel like I've done *something*.
Once I go over the proposals and have a better budget plan, I'll be able to get one more thing checked off my list. Wish us luck!
Nate has unofficially picked his other two groomsmen. He needs to ask these two guys if they'll do it, but he's being a major whiny jerk about it. I'm tempted to just call them and ask them myself...but he doesn't want me to do that for the simple fact that I would go bridezilla on him and override his best man choice.
Did I mention that his best friend and I don't get along?
Anyhow, that's where I'm sitting right now. Not much progress, really, but enough to make me feel like I've done *something*.
Once I go over the proposals and have a better budget plan, I'll be able to get one more thing checked off my list. Wish us luck!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wedding Chaos Updates
I've neglected my adventure journal recently. Two months! Goodness. Well, we're starting to get down to the wire on this one. We're just under four months away from our big day. Since my last update, we've secured our date and location. The benefit to getting married on a Tuesday :-)
So, it's official! Franklin Park Conservatory is ours! *gleeful happy dances all around*
I've gotten almost everything else taken care of...and I just want to say that between Flower Factory and Michael's...well, my DIY attitude has equaled in saving a boatload of money. We have a good 85% of the favors ready; I just have to build the boxes and buy the candy. I'm waiting to the last minute to get the candy since we're not personalizing it in any way and I want it to be as fresh as possible. Seriously, I'll probably go to the store and pick up the chocolates the day before the wedding.
The boxes we originally picked were discontinued, when I had only bought half of what we needed. Fortunately, we've improvised, and due to our love of mixmatching, we've ended up with a nice combination that flatters our style and still looks cool in the mix.
My girls are pretty awesome, I can say that, too.
Nate's still struggling with his guys, mainly because neither one of us trusts his best friend to give a good toast. Seriously, the guy greatly dislikes me and I tolerate him only for the sake of Nate. That's really our only little piece of drama as far as the wedding goes.
The caterer is the last thing I need to finalize, and Cameron Mitchell has so many choices that I'm just overwhelmed. At least I'm stressed for a good reason.
I think my last big stress is going to be my centerpieces. I know what I want, I have some of them, but the woman who shoved me out of the way to snatch up literally every single item on the shelf the other day really irked me. I wanted to say something, but I hate being a drama queen in public. I learned young that it's just embarassing.
So...that's really it. We're ordering the invitations next week, complete with reply cards, I have to convince myself to stick to a budget with the caterer, and Nate has to PICK SOME FREAKING GROOMSMEN! Yeah, obsessive, but it needs done.
That's all I have, really. I'm just putting things together a little at a time.
So, it's official! Franklin Park Conservatory is ours! *gleeful happy dances all around*
I've gotten almost everything else taken care of...and I just want to say that between Flower Factory and Michael's...well, my DIY attitude has equaled in saving a boatload of money. We have a good 85% of the favors ready; I just have to build the boxes and buy the candy. I'm waiting to the last minute to get the candy since we're not personalizing it in any way and I want it to be as fresh as possible. Seriously, I'll probably go to the store and pick up the chocolates the day before the wedding.
The boxes we originally picked were discontinued, when I had only bought half of what we needed. Fortunately, we've improvised, and due to our love of mixmatching, we've ended up with a nice combination that flatters our style and still looks cool in the mix.
My girls are pretty awesome, I can say that, too.
Nate's still struggling with his guys, mainly because neither one of us trusts his best friend to give a good toast. Seriously, the guy greatly dislikes me and I tolerate him only for the sake of Nate. That's really our only little piece of drama as far as the wedding goes.
The caterer is the last thing I need to finalize, and Cameron Mitchell has so many choices that I'm just overwhelmed. At least I'm stressed for a good reason.
I think my last big stress is going to be my centerpieces. I know what I want, I have some of them, but the woman who shoved me out of the way to snatch up literally every single item on the shelf the other day really irked me. I wanted to say something, but I hate being a drama queen in public. I learned young that it's just embarassing.
So...that's really it. We're ordering the invitations next week, complete with reply cards, I have to convince myself to stick to a budget with the caterer, and Nate has to PICK SOME FREAKING GROOMSMEN! Yeah, obsessive, but it needs done.
That's all I have, really. I'm just putting things together a little at a time.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Accomplishment Feels Great
I've had a busy weekend.
Sunday, we met with yet another officiant. We've found one we love! Finally! We've decided to go with Elayne from A Wedding Expression. Her personality and professional philosophy is exactly what we've been looking for that we couldn't quite find. I'm delighted to be working with her on this.
Monday afternoon I met with yet another cake designer...and this time I absolutely loved what I saw both in pricing and in quality...plus our Tuesday date isn't a deal breaker for her! Alice from Alice's Piece Of Cake is who we've decided to go with for this. Her designs are absolutely beautiful, the cake was delicious, her daughter is adorable (and insists on saying "hi!" whenever possible :-))...plus she helped me work my way into our budget while still getting exactly what I want as far as designs and flavorings go. Our supremely chocolate cake is going to be fabulous and I'm going to feel a bit guilty eating it, but that's OK.
I'm so excited to have finally found some professionals who also have a personality. While I respect a strong professionalism, I feel that when it comes to weddings and other such celebrations that the professionals should have some personality to boot.
So there's my teensy bit of bragging. I stayed within my budget and got exactly what I wanted. If anyone in Central Ohio is looking for a great cake designer, Alice does all occasions, and I have to say to check her out!
Happily yours,
Tonee
Sunday, we met with yet another officiant. We've found one we love! Finally! We've decided to go with Elayne from A Wedding Expression. Her personality and professional philosophy is exactly what we've been looking for that we couldn't quite find. I'm delighted to be working with her on this.
Monday afternoon I met with yet another cake designer...and this time I absolutely loved what I saw both in pricing and in quality...plus our Tuesday date isn't a deal breaker for her! Alice from Alice's Piece Of Cake is who we've decided to go with for this. Her designs are absolutely beautiful, the cake was delicious, her daughter is adorable (and insists on saying "hi!" whenever possible :-))...plus she helped me work my way into our budget while still getting exactly what I want as far as designs and flavorings go. Our supremely chocolate cake is going to be fabulous and I'm going to feel a bit guilty eating it, but that's OK.
I'm so excited to have finally found some professionals who also have a personality. While I respect a strong professionalism, I feel that when it comes to weddings and other such celebrations that the professionals should have some personality to boot.
So there's my teensy bit of bragging. I stayed within my budget and got exactly what I wanted. If anyone in Central Ohio is looking for a great cake designer, Alice does all occasions, and I have to say to check her out!
Happily yours,
Tonee
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Outfits
OK, so I've had my dress since November, and now that I've bought my shoes, my outfit is done. I even know how I'm doing my hair. Mwaha!
Monday night we finally made our way to the tuxedo shop to pick out what our guys are going to wear. We found a beautiful black three buttoned jacket that looks amazing with the marine vests. We picked a traditional collared ivory shirt and an ivory pocket square to pull all the wedding colors together. As for shoes, we're going with basic black for the guys. It makes everything much easier in the long run.
I just wonder one thing about my trip to the tuxedo shop: WHO WEARS WING TIPPED COLLARS? They looked so...silly! Then again, I'm a strange one, I suppose.
So, we're fully running with the ivory and marine theme, and here we are. The outfits are picked. Done, finally. One more thing to knock off my list.
Sunday is my meeting with a potential officiant. If meeting her in person is anything like chatting with her via email and phone, I will be a happy happy woman. Monday afternoon I'm meeting with a cake designer, now that I've found one who works in our price range AND whose designs I've liked thus far. I'm unbelievably excited that things are finally falling in to place like they're supposed to.
So, all that's left is to beat the groomsmen into going to get fitted, and for my delightful hubby-to-be to pick one of his groomsmen as a best man. I've agreed to just deal and let his best friend do it, but he doesn't seem to trust his best friend with the whole toasting thing. One dilemma after another with us, I swear.
That's all I've got for now. Hopefully I won't be as neglectful with this in the future. God knows I'm going to need to rant and my poor MOH can't handle all of my rants on top of her ER schedule :-D
Monday night we finally made our way to the tuxedo shop to pick out what our guys are going to wear. We found a beautiful black three buttoned jacket that looks amazing with the marine vests. We picked a traditional collared ivory shirt and an ivory pocket square to pull all the wedding colors together. As for shoes, we're going with basic black for the guys. It makes everything much easier in the long run.
I just wonder one thing about my trip to the tuxedo shop: WHO WEARS WING TIPPED COLLARS? They looked so...silly! Then again, I'm a strange one, I suppose.
So, we're fully running with the ivory and marine theme, and here we are. The outfits are picked. Done, finally. One more thing to knock off my list.
Sunday is my meeting with a potential officiant. If meeting her in person is anything like chatting with her via email and phone, I will be a happy happy woman. Monday afternoon I'm meeting with a cake designer, now that I've found one who works in our price range AND whose designs I've liked thus far. I'm unbelievably excited that things are finally falling in to place like they're supposed to.
So, all that's left is to beat the groomsmen into going to get fitted, and for my delightful hubby-to-be to pick one of his groomsmen as a best man. I've agreed to just deal and let his best friend do it, but he doesn't seem to trust his best friend with the whole toasting thing. One dilemma after another with us, I swear.
That's all I've got for now. Hopefully I won't be as neglectful with this in the future. God knows I'm going to need to rant and my poor MOH can't handle all of my rants on top of her ER schedule :-D
Monday, January 5, 2009
Here I am, Bride-to-be, in my new pink-n-sparkly hat. In case it's hard to read, it says "Bride" and was a complete impulse buy when I went to David's Bridal today to buy my shoes. I got the shoes on super mega clearance for $20 (that includes the price to have them dyed), so I splurged $12.95 for the hat. It's actually a very comfortable hat, and makes me feel delightfully girly with all of this.
Yup, there's more of me being silly in my pretty and sparkly pink hat. The camera doesn't do this thing justice, as it is delightfully bright pink and very silly girly. I somehow see me arguing with my bridesmaids over wearing this hat instead of the veil at the bachelorette scavenger hunt chaos.
I've decided that I'm just not going to stress out about everything like I have been. I have a meeting with an officiant on Sunday, and tonight is our appointment to start finding things he likes for his clothing. We at least have agreed on vests, so there's one step in the right direction for us.
One of my girls found a dress at JC Penney in the perfect color that works beautifully with her body type. Best part? On clearance for $70 marked down from almost $200. One girl down, two to go. I still have to get the ring-bearer pillow and flower girl basket. Then again, we still need a ring bearer. Maybe. It looks like one of my bridesmaids is going to loan me her son for the evening :-D
That's all, really. I've decided that I'm not going to stress out and cry for at least three months. Come St. Patrick's Day, though, all bets are off. For now, all is good.
~The Future Mrs. K
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