Tuesday, February 19, 2013

First & Last {wedding music, favors, food}

Mom and I met with the ceremony musician last week to go over song selections.  As we made our selections, we had so much fun hearing song samples!  I looked over at mom during one song and she had tears in her eyes!  I can't imagine when she hears the same song on my wedding day ;)  As the musician continued playing, my body became covered with a wave of goose bumps until finally (when we heard the song my sister walked down the isle to) I got teary eyed.  I remembered when they opened the doors of the church that Haley got married in, and I remembered her beautiful smile on her face as she neared her (now) husband.  I cannot wait until I have moments that will remind me of when the doors were opened for me and I cannot wait to remember standing in front of Matt completely full of pure joy and love.

After visiting two vendors, I easily selected who I wanted to do our wedding favors.  Since some serious DIY activity will be required,  I've recruited my mom to help me!  I'm looking forward to spending some time with mom while we work together on this project.  I just hope we can refrain from eating all the favors...  I can't wait for everyone to have a little piece of one of my favorite things as a "thank you" for celebrating with us!

Our food tasting at our venue was the evening before Valentine's Day.  Matt has so been looking forward to this appointment!  The food definitely did not disappoint!  Matt couldn't resist the appetizers and since I couldn't eat any of them, he ate my portion and the couple's next to us...  Yes, he claims the appetizers were THAT good!  We will definitely include some of his favorites on our wedding day!  After Matt ate all of the appetizers, it was time for the buffet to open.  I couldn't go through the buffet line but management had the chef make a separate plate for me that was gluten free.  Now that's some service, especially considering there were about 300 other guests (other brides and grooms getting married in the next few months) there for the tasting.  Matt wasted no time filling his plate at the macaroni bar and the meat carving stations.  As we ate, Matt and I, along with the three other couples at our table, commented on every bite, putting stars by the ones we liked on our menu.  The dinner was great!  We can't wait to use this experience as a foundation when it's time for us to customize our menu for our wedding day.
This is really kind of cool...  So as we were pulling into the parking lot at our venue for the tasting, the song that I am walking down the isle to came on the radio!  It was like a confirmation that it was the absolute perfect song.  I was so excited but was able to keep my cool as Matt doesn't know which song will be playing when I walk towards him.  It's a special surprise for him.  (Hint:  it may even be the very last song we dance to as everyone prepares for our grand exit!)

Finally, the food tasting!

Prettiest sorbet!


Mom and I spent a lot of time working on the list of "do not play" songs for our reception.  We literally looked up almost every song, listened to it and then either marked it off or starred it.  We had a blast - we really know how to make ANYTHING fun.  After we perfected the list, I emailed it to our entertainment manager and her first comment was on my "impeccable detail".  What can I say?  I'm very detail oriented.  I was also thrilled to learn that the songs we've chosen as the first and last dance songs are definitely added to the playlist.  Thanks for helping me, momma!



As evident by my infrequency of posts, I am getting busier and busier as our wedding day quickly approaches.  Before I was making monthly to do lists.  Now I am making [long] weekly to do lists.  (I'm even putting "blog" on my to do list because it's been therapeutic in the midst of wedding planning.)   I've managed to remain calm through our engagement thus far; however I think I may have had my first semi-meltdown.  And I'm just now realizing it happened minutes after making my to do list for the week.  Ha!  So, what did I do?  Called momma.  I'm so grateful for her calm and reassuring words.  I just needed to hear it loud and clear that I had everything under control.  Because, I mean I do have everything under control, but I just freaked out a bit and lost control of myself, lol.  So thanks again, mom, for reminding me that everything is going to be ok.

Monday, February 4, 2013

The Best Day Ever {formal invitations, Dallas event space, DIY, Etsy}

I was so nervous for my first dress fitting; but the appointment went better than I imagined, the dress was even more beautiful than I remembered and my shoes looked absolutely perfect tucked underneath my dress.  It fit so well and only a few places needed to be taken in.  After the seamstress made all the appropriate alterations, the dress fit like a glove!  As I stood in front of the mirror I kept noticing little details that I didn't see before (because the sample dress was a bigger size, it's easy to miss details that get lost in the clamps).  I am thrilled that it's even more perfect than I imagined!  Whew!

After the dress fitting, mom and I went to Papyrus on a mission to finalize our formal invitations and after two hours of collaboration, I loved it and placed the order!  I initially found the invitation I liked back when we ordered our save-the-date cards.  But as indecisive as I can be, I wanted to just double check and make sure there wasn't a better one out there.  I looked at a few other cards that were much simpler but were surprisingly much more expensive.  So I immediately nixed those.  After changing several (ok, after changing everything) to my original invitation, it finally came together!  And it was one of the cheaper options!  (I've learned a lot about negotiations throughout this whole wedding planning adventure - a price is always negotiable.)  Before the invitations are printed, I'm busy with minor corrections on the proofs, which is taking longer than I anticipated.  Hopefully I can get them perfected this week!

A couple weeks ago, Matt and I looked at event space at Season's 52 for the rehearsal dinner.  Though we love their food, we didn't love the space layout.  We decided to keep looking for a better place to have our rehearsal dinner.  Knowing that the venue needed to be booked in January, it's been consuming me as the end of the month quickly approached!  After church on the last Sunday of January, Matt and I randomly went to Blue Plate for brunch.  I had never been and he had only been one other time.  We sat down and marveled over the brunch menu.  Once the waitress took our order and walked away, I noticed above their bar a chalkboard sign, "Ask us about our event space!"  So I asked...
The manager came over to give us the details.  After she realized that Blue Plate wasn't exactly what we were looking for (lack of privacy), she recommended KB's in Plano.  After she explained it, I was so excited that I wanted to shout - so I called mom, lol!
After I connected with KB's manager and learned more about what they had to offer, I drove up the next day to check it out and fell in love with the space!  The best part - complete privacy!  We will be the only ones in the whole restaurant!  (KB's closed as a restaurant last summer and is now used exclusively for private events.)  Seriously, how perfect?!  After telling our family about it, I am ecstatic that they love it as much as we do!  I am so looking forward to our rehearsal dinner so we can celebrate with each one of our family members and closest friends the day before the best day ever.

KB's.

Below is another DIY project that will keep me busy for the next couple of days.  I ordered a custom acrylic block stamp from Love to Create Stamps. (Yes, another Etsy purchase.)  I love using cute cards, envelopes and stamps for creative ways to inform family and friends of specific requests.  Yes I could spread the word via text or email but that's just not as cute.  Also, the paper supplies were actually a Christmas gift from my fiancĂ© so I think that makes this project especially cute - it's those little details that I love so much!


What's inspiring me this month:

Loren & Matt*
           

























February wedding to do list:

- Meet with ceremony musician, Feb. 7
- Consider ceremony decoration needs
- Meet with florist to discuss details, colors, decor, etc..., Feb 7.
- Have groom and groomsmen get measured for their tuxes
- Have groom and groomsmen buy appropriate accessories
- Work on day of timeline
- Arrange day of transportation
- Continue brainstorming for bridesmaids' luncheon
- Help bridesmaids with their accessories and shoes
- Attend menu sampling, Feb. 13
- Meet with our officiant, Feb. 24
- Talk to honor attendants about wedding shower, bachelorette party... (YAY!)
- Decide on wedding favor details
- Create hotel info cards and maps for guests (I may pass on a map - google it...)
- Begin working on ceremony timeline, ceremony programs and reception timeline
- Continue working on DIY projects, ceremony "details", reception playlist.

3 months to go!  EEEEEEE!