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 fiancé 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!

Wedding March {save-the-date card downtown Dallas}

Save-the-dates are out!  The week they were mailed was so exciting because the day after they were mailed, I got an email saying that we received our first RSVP to the wedding!  I immediately checked to see who it was and when I saw that it was my Aunt Bobbie, I squealed (like she and I do when we're excited)!  Quickly following her RSVP was one from my step aunt, Kim, another from my mom and yet another from one of my mom's dear friends!  EEEEE (that's kind of what the squeal sounds like)!  Then I started getting notifications that people were signing our guest book!  I was elated and called Matt to share in my excitement.       

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While my sister and cousin, Christa, were in town, my bridesmaids (with the exception of one) met up to discuss upcoming events!  Knowing that each one of them took time out of their day to gather with other girls that they don't particularly know very well just to make plans for me really made me feel so special.  I am so thankful that I have such amazing girls in my life that are sharing this amazing experience with me, every step of the way!  Although my co-MOHs didn't share much about event details, I pressed them for hints and grew with excited when I managed to get a couple details out of my sister (I know how to work her) about the bachelorette party!  I cannot wait!

I have been keeping Etsy in business over the past few months.  They have some of the neatest and unique items and I love that most items are handmade in the USA.  I ordered from "A Fresh Coat of Paint" (from Etsy) a little piece I'll use for reception decor.  I fell in love with this ampersand a can't wait to pair it with it's partners.  I'm waiting on several more items that I've ordered this month and can't wait to start on any DIY projects when they arrive!  Also in my do-it-yourself-state, I've been working on our formal invitation wording.  Although it will be of typical formality, I want to make the wording a little more modern.  I presented several ideas to Matt and we actually agreed on one!  Now all we have to do is order them!  Mom and I will do that next week (after my first dress fitting!) at Papyrus.  If the printing process goes smoothly, I will have about a three week window to add a personal touch to the invitations before we mail them out.  Petty good timing!

We received an email from our wedding venue inviting Matt and me to a menu sampling on February 13!  Matt is so excited - this is what he's been waiting for!  They attached the menu and Matt wasted no time to review the menu items (he does that a lot before we go to a restaurant...).  We are very pleased with the sampling menu:

Hors d’Oeuvres

Classic Mini Monte Cristo, Steak and Cilantro Empanadas, Gulf Lump Crab cakes, Coconut Crusted Chicken Bites, Firecracker Shrimp

Dinner Service

Wine Country Salad, Champagne and Raspberry Sorbets, Chicken du Chef, Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Gulf Snapper, Porcini Rubbed Prime Rib

And finally, a champagne toast!

Um, yum!  I've already sent in our RSVP and even informed them of my gluten intolerance.  I'm hoping I get to enjoy all those amazing sounding dishes, otherwise, Matt will be selecting our reception menu...  The email said that staff will be present to exchange ideas and to help make our wedding unique to our personal tastes, which is good because I am a picky eater and I definitely plan to customize our menu.

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Love my sister!

While my sister was in town, we made sure to spend some quality time together sipping our coffee in the morning and ending our day on the couch with cookies.  Haley and I talked about the wedding some and I asked her what her favorite part of her wedding day was.  She described her favorite moment being when she was the last one in the dressing room, standing in front of a mirror, looking at herself in her wedding dress and thinking about getting to marrying her [now] husband.  Hearing her share such a special memory made me so excited to do exactly what she did right before her wedding march.  I can only imagine an overwhelming joy that filled the room that only she experienced and I cannot wait to be overwhelmed with the same joy in those moments before I get to marry my best friend.  (EEEEEE!)

Every Last Detail {save-the-date cards, first fitting appt., rehearsal dinner venue, inspirations}

It was an especially special Christmas this year with my fiancé.  The festivities were no different than last year (Christmas Eve with his family and Christmas day with mine), but there's something about being engaged that makes every day a little more special, just because.  I am so excited that 2013 is upon us!  This year I'm getting married!  So to bring in this special year, Matt and I celebrated at a restaurant at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel, where we will be staying the night of the wedding!  Being at the Crescent was just a small reminder of how close our wedding day is and how blessed I am to get to marry my very best friend very soon!  Love must be in the air as several friends of mine have recently gotten engaged.  Just a bit of advise from yours truly, cherish this time with your fiancé and enjoy every last detail!

Our first Christmas Eve service together.

Now that Christmas is over, I can focus more on the wedding!  January is going to be a busy month full of appointments, DIY projects, shopping, ordering, etc...  Doesn't get any better!
After a short delay due to holiday madness, Papyrus finished printing the addresses on our save-the-date envelopes and they look great!  After I picked them up, I immediately began prepping them to be sent out to our family and friends.  It took me over three hours to stamp the return address on the back, insert the card, lick, stick and stamp them all!  I caught one error, Papyrus's error not mine, on one address.  Yes I could handwrite that one address, but my perfectionism won't allow it.  I went back up to the store and had them reprint the incorrect address.  I'm sure I am driving the associates at Papyrus crazy, but the smallest error drives me crazy!  Anyway, now that I am 100% satisfied with all save-the-date cards, Matt and I were able to mail them out this week, the first week of January 2013 - a way for us to start your new year!  I hope when they individually arrive in each mailbox, our family and friends will be so excited to share in such a special celebration for Matt and me.

Coming up very soon is my first dress fitting!  My appointment is scheduled for January 16.  I'm so excited but am also a little nervous.  I hope that my dress is just as perfect and beautiful as I remember it.  I'm also so excited to put on my wedding shoes!  (They've been under my Christmas tree, just taunting me, for too long.)  I can't wait to, obviously wear them, but to see them with my dress!  They're the prettiest shoes I've ever seen, seriously.      

So this month we need to decide on a rehearsal dinner site and book it!  For the rehearsal, our family and friends will be driving to our wedding venue, which is 30 minutes outside of Dallas and over an hour for my family who live in North Texas.  Our rehearsal hosts' are searching for a place convenient for all.  During Christmas Eve dinner, Matt's dad suggested that we schedule a time to go check out Season's 52 at Shops at Legacy.  He explained that they have a back room that would be great for our group.  So I called Season's 52 and tentatively scheduled a time next week to view the space.  I'm hoping we can turn the viewing appointment into a dining experience also since I love their food!

I've narrowed down our first dance songs options to two!  I'm partial to one and, of course, Matt is partial to the other.  The songs are very different styles so we need to decide on which will best set the tone for the reception.  I had an idea of incorporating both songs into our night - start with one and end with the other.  Having a first and last song sounds like a perfect idea to me!  One of my vendors suggested that Matt and I dance to a song as our guests make their way out of the ballroom and prepare to send us off - I'm picturing us now, the only ones in the ballroom (well, other than the videographer and photographer), dancing as Mr. and Mrs. Williams(!) and reflecting back on an amazing evening.  I can't wait for that!  Speaking of songs, I need to contact my ceremony musician as I have another song they need to learn.  I love that we will be mixing classical and modern music for the ceremony and I'm so thankful that our musician is willing to learn newer, more modern songs that are special to Matt and me.  I cannot wait for our family and friends to enjoy the serenade while they wait for me to walk down the isle (EEEEEE!).

What is inspiring me this month:

Loren loves Matt, not Amy...

January wedding to do list:

- Send out save-the-date cards
- First dress fitting, Jan. 16
- Shop around for wedding day bridal accessories
- Book honeymoon destination and travel arrangements (yay!)
- Select and book rehearsal dinner venue and give hosts' a list of attending
- Order formal wedding invitations
- Brainstorm wedding vows
- Purchase Matt's wedding ring and send to be engraved
- Discuss with photographer and schedule bridal portraits, coordinate date with hair and makeup artists
- Finalize what the groomsmen will wear, including accessories
- Consider wedding favors
- Start thinking about bridesmaids' luncheon and day of activities
- Meet with our officiant

4 months to go!