Becoming the mother that I actually am

When I originally went looking for wedding dresses I was actually looking for a dress that was long sleeves and went clear up to my neck. Why? Because I've shot a lot of Jewish Orthodox weddings and that's how they do it and I've seen some really gorgeous dresses even with such full coverage styling.

Despite my initial hopes to find such modest coverage though, I ended up going with something that is strapless. It's a very far cry from what I was going for but after having a terrible time finding a full coverage dress and trying on so many strapless styles, I couldn't not admit that strapless was the most flattering for me - pregnant and/or not! The first dress that I got was strapless and the second one that I was able to exchange the first one for is also strapless.

I'm certain that I've picked a wonderful and beautiful dress to wear. I do have a concern though - initially, when the wedding was at the end of April, having a strapless dress was no big deal! However, now that it's in a week during a time of February that I've always known to be notorious for incredibly frigid temperatures and snow and ice - strapless doesn't seem quite like the best idea and how nice would it have been to have found something that completely covered all of me.

The one thing that I can't stop thinking about is how I absolutely cannot be leaving the house without a COAT!!! That fact that I just got over a nasty cold - and this isn't fun because when you're pregnant you can't take anything for it - certainly adds to my neuroses of keeping all of myself covered but overall - I don't know - I just feel like this whole strapless and NO COAT business is ridiculous and what am I crazy or something???

My mother has thought the same thing and, when I was getting my 2nd fitting for my dress, INSISTED that I get something to at least cover my shoulders. In a moment of impulse we found something to do just that: a white faux fur stole! (picture and link courtesy of DavidsBridal.com)

The picture has a way of making it look a lot cheesier than it actually is in real-life but would you believe that that sucker cost about $79!!!! Uhhhh... Yeah. Seriously. It did. I didn't pay for it though so I'm not saying anything more about it other than the fact that for that much money it still doesn't cover that much. But it does look like a "Classic Winter Bride" -type accessory, eh?

Even after the fur stole was purchased, I've still been quite concerned about being better covered. So this evening I stopped by Target to pick up my "anti-nausea-and-morning-sickness" meds and lo and behold in the Liz Lange Maternity section I found THE THING that I have been looking for!!! (photo and link courtesy of Target.com)


It's not white probably like I should have and the black (the coat) and white (my dress) combination might end up making me look like a pregnant penguin or something but at this point, beggars can't be choosers! Also, it's a really cute coat that I will be able to wear AFTER the wedding too!!! To be fair though there is some white on the coat - like the piping and the little swiss dot design of the fabric so it won't look too crazy/ridiculous. The price was also very right at only $39.99. :) (Liz Lange Maternity for Target RULES!!!!)

And there's my big accomplishment for today - at least. Slowly but surely and GOD-willing, this wedding WILL happen.

Tomorrow's big mission? We will be getting our marriage license. Hopefully, there will be no snafus with that!

Diann Valentine...Wow

I recently had the unique opportunity to spend some time with Diann Valentine and a few of the country's most talented up and coming creative designers. Though not all of them were event planners, there was a glorious mix of creative souls that all came together to meld their creative juice and encourage one another.

For those of you who have been living under a rock, Diann Valentine is a west coast event and interior designer. She is creativity personified. Weddings hold a special place for her and she has designed weddings for some of Hollywood's hottest names including, most recently Usher Raymond and Tameka Foster in the Hamptons this past summer. (Oh, and she put the entire event together in 14 - technically 10 days!)I wanted to post a few shots of the gals and guys that made the trip to LA absolutely fantastic. Keep your eye out for all of them and the HUGE contributions they will be making to the worlds of Concierge, Wedding Gown design, Graphic Design, Wedding Planning, Event Planning, Destination Travel and Event Production. It really takes all that to produce a spectacular event.

Hugely Important Gown Sale

Brides Against Breast Cancer Wedding Gown Sale

Thursday March 20 - VIP Night 8pm - 10:30pm

**Donation of $50 for Bride and one guest / $25 each additional guest**

Friday March 21 - 10am - 8pm FREE event

Saturday March 22 - 10am - 6pm FREE event
At the Crowne Plaza Tyson's Corner in McLean, Virginia. www.cptysonscorner.com .

Brides Against Breast Cancer™ gown sales continue to be an important fund-raising event for Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. Our 32 yearly shows provide brides-to-be with a unique opportunity to find their dream gown at an incredible savings, while making wishes and dreams come true for women and men who are losing their fight against breast cancer. Most gown prices range from $99 to $799*, more than half the gowns presented during each event are NEW designer gowns that arrived directly from bridal shops, trunk shows and manufacturers. The Nationwide Tour of Gowns has something for everyone, boasting a wide range of styles and fabrics, in sizes 4 to 24. Slips, veils, shoes and other accessories are also available in select locations. *Exclusive designer and couture gowns valued up to $20,000 are also available at an incredible 25% to 75% savings.

Pre-register at www.BridesAgainstBreastCancer.org.

To shuttle or not to shuttle..that is the questions?

What is the answer? As I previously posted, transportation has been a big issue for FI and I. We have the bridal party/our transportation/and our parents transportation figured out, however its trying to figure out the "other" guests that the issue arrises.

Do we really need to pay $650 (the cheapest price we have found so far) for a large shuttle to transport guests from there hotel, to georgetown back to the reception. At first I thought YES of COURSE we do, but then I started to think. The hotels where we are looking to do a block of rooms at ( there are 3 seperate hotels) are ALL a mile or less from the church and all about 1-2 BLOCKS from the reception site. Now it's not like we are having our wedding/reception in the middle of nowhere, we are in the middle of a large city, where taxis are abundent and for the short ride, not that expensive! Also, there is some parking in the georgetown area, and our reception site has an underground parking garage available to guests.

The picture I posted above is of a DC Trolley, I thought would be a "cute" idea, but so far it seems like it cant be achieved for less than 1500---for 40 people....although a cute idea, I don't think its worth it for us.

Personally, I think this is a way for us to save some money-what do other DC brides think? With the abundance of transportation in the city do you find it necessary to shuttle your guests?

This is what it's all about

Today and tonight were milestones for me. This is because I finally started to understand what planning this wedding was all about and why it's all so important that things be just so in certain ways that they ought to be.

All kinds of things were scheduled for today that which included the FINAL fitting and picking up of my dress and figuring out and finalizing the ceremony plans with our pastor. We were also supposed to get information ready to send out invitations to the Dave & Buster's event the night before The Big Day as well and try and find a reasonable place to hold a farewell brunch on Sunday. There are packages that should be picked up ASAP at the post office and the local UPS hub as well.

The good news is that I picked up my dress and (barely) fit into it and it's hanging in the guest room (wedding) closet alongside all of the other wedding items that we are quickly amassing. Our pastor had to cancel our meeting because he has a nasty stomach virus but he emailed us a PDF of a tentative ceremony that he has designed expressly for us and he was nice enough to put it into a format that we can easily just print off right onto programs (another thing that will be able to be taken care of!).

And then all the other stuff. It's coming along. It's the tedium that we can't escape and we are drudging through it. But that's now what I was talking about when I started this post.

I had to go to AC Moore for some last minute items that I need to complete the DIY-projects that I am currently in the throes of completing. I rushed in after collecting my dress and then proceeded to rush around the store like a mad-woman. And then I stopped. And I forced myself to slow down. And I just took my time walking around and looking at this and stuff that wasn't even wedding related! And somehow I ended up in front of this display of items when I was struck with brilliance of what I am going to do for my husband2be for his "traditional" wedding day gift that we both had agreed we wouldn't do. *I can't discuss it here because he might read about it but I will tell you about it after the fact and hopefully have some nifty pictures from our photographers to help illustrate!* It was truly a thrilling moment to get everything I needed together for his gift and the more I think about it (now) the more excited I get for The Big Day.

And then after AC Moore I went to "Five and below" (just down the way) for various sundry items. And while I was there I found the socks that I shall wear (my something new!) for The Big Day that seemed like they were just waiting for me to find them. And for reasons that I will explain in another posting, they just about made me cry in the middle of the store because finding them was like another stroke of brilliance that made me feel like our wedding - no matter the mishaps - was really going to happen and everything was really going to be wonderful and okay.

I don't know why I'm posting this all. It's hardly wedding planning related but I feel like it's relevant just the same. I guess I just wanted to say that it's easy to get caught up in the fluff of the planning and if you can help yourself - even if you have to FORCE yourself - don't forget to slow down a little so that you can actually enjoy yourself and what getting married and having a wedding is really all about. Yeah - you wear the big pouffy dress and there's a big party and it's this big deal. But it's also about the other little stuff too that most people would never care to know about because they don't see it. It's about the stuff that YOU alone see and plan because it matters to you.

It is just one day.

But it can also be one of the BEST. DAYS! of your whole life if you don't let everything else spoil it. Seriously. ;-)

Love. Life. And Free Photography!

One of the many photography blogs I keep in my Google Reader is the blog for Love Life Images. Love Life is actually a group of 3 very talented photographers - Mary C. Gardella, Jennifer Domenick, and Stephen Bobb.

Well I'm excited to announce that they will be giving away a day of free photography to one really lucky 2008 bride! What will that include? 2 photographers, 8 hours of coverage, an engagement shoot, a snapshot studio at the wedding, online hosting, and proofs! This is literally worth THOUSANDS. These are experienced pros, not startup photographers.

What's the catch? Nothing---all they ask if for a little creativity from you. They want to see a photo of the "love of your life." And no I'm not talking about your prom pics...they want a picture that tells a story. They want to see how you see your love through the lens of a camera and to hear a little bit about why this person (or thing??) is the love of your life.

For all the rules and regulations check out their blog. The deadline is Valentine's day so get to snapping. They will pick finalists and then we can vote on who wins! Exciting....


^Image credited to Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images

^Image Credited to Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images

^Image credited to Mary C. Gardella of Love Life Images

^Image credited to Stephen Bobb of Love Life Images

Gocco Anyone?

If you are a D.C. area bride and either have a Gocco or want to use one then be sure to RSVP to BearBride over at Weddingbee. She's organizing a Gocco Party! Don't know what a Gocco is? Check it out and see all the neat things it can do.

Paper Source Workshops

I've heard wonderful things about Paper Source, and have always wanted to check out the store. But really, what's the point when I know I'll be ordering my invites from Paperzest? Well, there's this one little factor called the FMIL. And mine, whom I adore, is a graphic designer and would love to take part in our paper projects in some facet. I let Christina at Paperzest know up front that there needed to be a few projects left for Mr. Shirlington's mom, and instead of trying to talk me into letting Paperzest do them, she told me to have FMIL email her if she had any questions at all. I've said it before, but this is yet another example of why I enjoy working with her.

So I've decided that I might drop in on one of these Paper Source workshops in Georgetown so when I offer to help FMIL, she doesn't find me completely devoid of DIY know-how. There are the three interesting ones:

Wedding Invites
Sun, Feb 10, 2-5pm GT

Paper Source requests the honor of your presence at this one-of-a-kind workshop on wedding event invitations. We will look at several examples to determine what style you prefer, then learn how to design and produce your own save-the-dates, shower invites, rsvps, and, of course, the pièce de résistance, your invitations! You'll experiment with several different papers and designs. In addition, we'll talk about how to "mass produce" your handmade treasure and learn different techniques for using ribbons to help you "tie the knot". A discussion of addressing and printing will follow. RSVP soon!

Beyond the Invitation: Wedding Event Invites
Sun, Mar 2, 2-5pm GT

Just as there's more to the ceremony than "The Dress", there's more to announcing the wedding than "The Invitation". Join as we go full circle in planning your special event: we'll start with ideas for Save-the-Dates; move into bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and bachelor & bachelorette party invites; then discuss RSVP options and accommodation cards. The emphasis will be on creativity and projects you (and your bridesmaids or groom!) can do yourself when developing an overall look that tells everyone just how special your day will be. With the techniques you learn in class, you'll be able to go beyond the invitation and make all of your printed pieces special with beautiful Paper Source papers.

Wonderful Wedding Album
Wed, Mar 5, 6:30-9:30pm GT

Whether you're the bride- (or groom)-to-be, a member of the wedding party, or just want to create a very special gift, this is the workshop for you. The starting point is Paper Source's medium screwpost album kit with pre-drilled and pre-scored pages that accommodate both horizontal and vertical pictures. You'll cover the boards with our glorious Japanese paper paired with one of our imported bookcloths and embellished with a ribbon trim. Add finishing details such as covering the exposed screwposts with matching paper and you'll have a treasure of an album. We'll guide you through every step of the process: cutting, gluing, folding and binding. The album you make will be as special as the couple getting married!

Petals Edge Floral Design..,

Momma Alexandria was in town this weekend, she actually had a conference in Charlostville, but she stopped in to say hi to her favorite daughter ( only daughter :) ) and to go visit a florist.

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I was 99% sure I had my florist, Barbara from Growing Wild Floral , I just loved her, her flowers, everything was so beautiful I was sure I had found "the one". However, Mama Alexandria being the rational woman that she is, decided that we needed to at least explore another florist.

Keep in mind though, that since I am having such a large bridal party that my mom is going to make the bridesmaid bouquets ( she is retired and going to take a couple of classes before taking on this challenge) I will also inform you how this goes and the steps we take!

We met with Gerry from Petals Edge---Honestly, I wasn't impressed with her hospitality. She made me feel as if we were rushed ( the apt barely lasted 30 minutes while my apt with Barbara lasted an hour!) Also her demeanor was more "put offish" I can't describe it, but it was just a feeling I got. I also still haven't received her proposal, 5 days later! I know she could have been having a bad day, or in a hurry to finish an order , so this was just a personal experience that I had. Also , some vendors are more about the professionalism, not about being a friend, so that could also be the case! Other than that, I think her flowers speak for themselves, they are beautiful, and she is very knowledgeable on all types of flowers, what is available in what season, colors that come with different flowers. If you are in the Alexandria area her office is easily accessible ( it is walkable from my work) and I would recommend checking her work out, it is quite beautiful.

















* All Photos Courtesy of Petalsedge.com

So Many Vendors, So Little Time . . . The Georgia Bridal Show!

Come out this Sunday, February 3rd from 12:30 - 5 pm for the Georgia Bridal Show! Meet with the area's top bridal merchants and get inspired by the looks featured in the highly-anticipated fashion show! This event will be a great opportunity for Atlanta brides who are looking for inspiration, vendors, and great deals for their big day. I'll be there, so look for a full report next week!

Tickets: $10 (cash only at the door or go online to http://www.eliteevents.com/ to purchase tickets for $9 or sign-up for a $2-off coupon)

Location: Gwinnett Center
6400 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA

Hours: 12:30-5; Fashion Show starts at 4 pm

For more information: call 770-736-1979 or visit http://www.eliteevents.com/

Calgon - take me away (no, seriously - take me AWAY!!!)

In my case, though, it's Aveeno bath.

Anyway, I'm sorry for this double posting again. :-/ This time *I PROMISE* this is for very much for YOU!!!

+++Disclaimer: I'm not getting any kind of kickbacks for plugging this product.
It's just something that I've found to be wonderful in the midst of my wedding planning.+++

Question - What do YOU do to relieve your wedding planning stress? I, personally, take long steamy baths and read books (while taking baths).

I used to read wedding planning guides and more recently I moved onto pregnancy and baby planning books. Just tonight though, I kicked it back with a book that I shelved a few months ago - a book called Altared.

Now, let me just say that I'm a VERY picky reader. I will absolutely not read just anything. I will, in fact, read books that I love over and over again if there happens to be nothing new that I can find to read. It takes a LOT for me to like a book. But Altared? Is an AWESOME book!!!!

Unlike what has now become the "norm" of chick-lit fodder, this book about all-things-weddings that come with them is not a fictional "no-brain" read. It's a collection of prose and essays from some very noteworthy authors (Curtis Sittenfeld of the book Prep ring a bell?) that provides a very realistic and sometimes cheeky look at the whole wedding world. Rather than being ditzy - which it totally could be, it's a really "smart" book. And on top of that, you read it and can feel better about some of the drama that you might find yourself in with your own wedding drama. (At least that's how it works for me.)

I happened to pick up this book in the midst of buying wedding planning guides and it is truly one of the best buys that I have made of all of the books that I have purchased. Nothing beats a steamy bath and paging through a few of the selections of the book (it is in a form that doesn't require cover-to-cover reading) to make me feel like all of the things that might be happening at any given time are no biggie in the long run.

If you're looking for wedding (but not really) books to read to help you to "escape" from all of the drama but still provide lots of good advice and ideas read this! I highly recommend this book! It's completely awesome... *see?*

LOVES it. Obviously!

Play that funky music

We're comin' down to the line, ladies and gents!!! We are officially 12 days from The Big Day today. Hard to believe. And with it getting so close, I'm doing all kinds of juggling to make things happen. Today my boss actually said, "Maybe you should think about taking at least one more day off in addition to your other days so you can really be ready." Uhhhh... kind of a not so obvious hint, eh? I bet she thinks I'm going crazy with everything going on. Probably since I think I said so (verbatim) in the midst of the conversation.

Anyway, today I managed to do my job AND multi-task by getting some contracts and vendors confirmed in addition to making some major headway with our song list. Here's what I've managed to pull together within the last few days:

Entrance/Introduction - "At Last" by Etta James

First dance - "Groovy Kinda Love" by Phil Collins

Father/bride dance - "Danny's song" by Kenny Loggins

Mother/groom dance - "First time ever I saw your face" sung by Celine Dion

Anniversary dance (we aren't doing the garter/bouquet toss) - "Everything" by Michael Buble

Kids' dance - "Baby Elephant walk" by Henry Mancini

Cake cutting - "Young at heart" by Sinatra

Last Dance/Farewell - "I swear" by John Michael Montgomery

At the start of the meal - the typical rundown of jazz standards to include the following:

-"Cheek to cheek" by Ella Fitzgerald

-"Misty" version by Jane Monheit

-"Love and Marriage" by Sinatra

- anything Tony Bennett

- "More" by Bobby Darin

- "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole

- "East of the Sun" by Diana Krall

- anything by Sinatra

- anything by Michael Buble

- anything by Ella Fitzgerald

- anything by Harry Connick Jr.

Other songs that we would like to be played (if possible) - those with asterisks we definitely want:
- "Memories are made of this" by Dean Martin*

- "You Are My Only One" by James Taylor*

- "It had to be you" by Harry Connick Jr.*
- "Love of My Life" by Santana/Dave Matthews Band*
- "A love that will last" by Renee Olstead
- "To make you feel my love" by Garth Brooks
- "God blessed the broken road" by Rascal Flats
- "Stick wit you" by Pussycat Dolls
- "We are man and wife" by Michelle Featherstone
- "Gotta have you" by The Weepies
- "You've got a way" by Shania Twain
- "Come what may" from Moulin Rouge soundtrack

- "Valentine" by Martina McBride

- "The Gift" (duet) with Jim Brickman

- "Beauty and the Beast" (duet) with Celine Dion

- "When I fall in Love" (duet) with Celine Dion

- "At the beginning" duet with Richard Marx

- "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynard Skynard

- "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King

- "Shower the People" by James Taylor

- "Hips don't lie" by Shakira

- "Hey Ya" by Outkast

- "Brown eyed Girl" by Van Morrison

- "Build me up buttercup" by the Foundations

- "Ain't no other man" by Christina Aguilera

- "Material Girl" by Madonna

- "Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes

- "Brick house" by the Commodores

- "RESPECT" by Aretha Franklin

- "The Twist" by Chubby Checker

- "1,2,step" by Ciara

- "Sway" - Pussycat dolls

- "Little wonders" by Rob Thomas

- "Cause I love you" duet by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash

- "Put your records on" by Corinne Bailey Rae

- "Zoot suit riot" by Cherry Poppin' Daddies

- "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins

- "Girls just wanna have fun" by Cyndi Lauper

- "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees

- "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi

- "Old Time Rock n Roll" by Bob Seger

- "Heaven" by DJ Sammy

- "Crazy little thing called love" by Queen

- "Shook me all night long" by AC/DC

- "Dancing Queen" by ABBA

- "Can't help myelf" by the Four Tops

Please DO NOT PLAY any of the following:

- "Love Shack" by B-52's

- "Macarena"

- Any "club" mixes/remixes/music

- Anything by Britney Spears

- Anything with profanity (there will be a lot of children present!)

- "Chicken Dance"

- "Hokey Pokey"

- "Conga"

- "Locomotion"

- anything by Hinder

- anything by Nickelback

- "Who Let the Dogs out" by Baha Men

- "My humps" by Black eyed peas

Not too shabby considering I got a major amount of this accomplished today alongside teaching "Read aloud strategies" and "Organizational patterns of informational texts." Go ahead - inflate my ego. I'm AWESOME.

*Not really but please let me humor myself because I feel a little guilty after just eating an entire half a block of cheese in about 10 minutes - eating for two right? I take this SERIOUSLY!*

Anyway, I'm kind of excited about our song list! I never realized that I have so many "favorite" type songs. I had a hard time getting started but then I googled for other people's play lists and took notes from them - especially with regard to the "DO NOT PLAY" portion at the end.

Some things that we are doing specifically are adding things like a "Kids' dance" since we are having a significant number of little chitlin's under the age of 7 in attendance and the "Baby Elephant Walk" is a personal favorite of husband2be and mine that has served as inspiration for the nursery theme that we are going with for our baby! I can't wait to see all of the little ones on the dance floor "bustin' their groove thangs" *yes - I said thangs!* to this very silly song. And you better believe that husband2be and I will be out there with them!!!

Another thing that we are doing is the songs that are marked with asterisks are all ones that were played as the "First Dances" for each of our brothers/sisters and parents. We don't expect any of them to get up and do any kind of spotlight dancing but we figure it's a good way to a) recognize them as family members, b) allow them to hear "their songs" because how often does that happen(?), and c) automatically get them out of the dance floor to "inspire" others to dance!

Husband2be sort-of helped to compile this list. It's been mostly me doing it but he's going to be looking at it and probably adding his own songs in there because I know he wants some George Clinton - he's mentioned this before.

I'd say we're pretty good to go though if this is what we end up going from. Not bad at all, I think.

Venue Alert

Fiance and I have been looking for a place to have our rehearsal dinner. In the midst of my search for a private dining room in the DC area, I came across this absolute jewel. I present to you the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The balcony has views of the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. This is, hands down, the most beautiful space I have seen in all of my wedding planning days. More information and photos of other rooms are available on the website.

*All photos from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution website*

O'Byrne Gallery

I also found some info on a Knot board. The O’Byrne Gallery is listed at $6,800 (wow). It accommodates 140 people, seated.

Constitution Hall Lobby

This beauty holds 1,500 people standing and 700 seated.

Calling Atlanta Brides to Blog for Atlanta NearlyWeds

DC NearlyWeds is expanding its blog to encompass the road to matrimonial bliss of brides-to-be in Atlanta, GA! We are looking for brides in the Atlanta area, or brides who are planning to wed in Atlanta, to blog on the site! The bride's blog will follow her planning process as she works with a professional wedding planner to navigate her way down the aisle! The Atlanta blog will be a great place for brides to get information about vendors, sales and events in her area.

Brides who are interested, please send an email to blogwithus at dcnearlyweds dot com. Each applicant should respond with a short recap of her planning process and vision, wedding date, and story of her relationship and engagement.

DC NearlyWeds Heads South!!!

Happy Monday everyone! DC NearlyWeds is expanding its blog to encompass the road to matrimonial bliss of brides-to-be around the country! First stop . . . Atlanta, GA! I am Ms. Atlanta, the new moderator for Atlanta NearlyWeds. I am a recent college grad with sincere and enthusiastic aspirations to become a successful Atlanta area wedding planner. As moderator, I will be bringing as many wedding-related resources the Atlanta area has to offer to our blog. This includes great finds for vendors, sales, freebies, bridal shows and informational tidbits to make your planning process as pleasant as possible!

I'm two for two!!!

I finished the favors that I posted on about two hours ago. In the midst of doing them - because the novelty did indeed wear off - I took care of the two little items that our flower girls will carry! The older one (almost 3 years old) will carry the basket and the littler one (1.5 years old) will carry the kitty.

For both, I used our colors of Dark Pink and Light Pink in materials that I got from AC Moore. Butterflies (for memoriam purposes) and the grosgrain ribbon were used for the basket and just the grosgrain ribbon was used for the kitty.


I wrapped the handle of the basket (only 25 cents - my mom found it! Go Mom!!!) with the ribbon and then took the butterflies and wrapped the wires that they came on around the handle at the base on one side - since I assume she will hold the basket close to her and don't want to risk messing up the butterflies (two were seriously injured beyond repair *boohoo*). The ivory ribbon was added to break up the "pinkness" and was leftover from the guest favors.

It came out looking a little more DIY than I was going for but it sure beats the heck out of paying over $20 for a flower girl basket - mostly the price that I saw for them. This one came out to probably a little under $5. The petals that it will be filled with will be light pink.

Then there's the kitty. She, of course, had to look "fancy" as well for the occasion. I considered doing the bow in the front but then shifted it to the back and off to the side because I think it looks better that way.

And because I did such a good job, I treated myself to a nice triple scoop of Black Cherry ice cream...


since I AM eating for two and all...

Pardon the mess in the background in my "office." Thanks! -Mgmt

Do I look like I'm carrying a boy or a girl?

I actually know already - we found out about a week ago *heehee* but I can't tell you until we tell all of our people at the wedding reception!!! I know - how much of a tease am I??? I promise - I'll tell you as soon as I can!!!

Mind if I do you a cute little favor?

No? Then how about if I just put that in a box for you to take "to-go" then!

Let's start with a little lesson in arithmetic. *Pardon me if I'm a little bad at it as I'm actually a Reading and Language Arts teacher!*

Observe as I demonstrate for you:

mini gold takeout boxes from AsianIdeas.com
+

Hershey's Hugs & Kisses
+

red chopsticks with crane design from AsianIdeas.com
+

ivory satin ribbon from AC Moore
=

Voila!
*Pardon the "shades" that I'm wearing.
I'm not so cool as to wear them all the time and just filled
in the glasses that I wear to conceal my identity - ooooooh!*

Here is a picture of a whole gaggle of favors that I have already finished. I am currently not even close to being done :-p but this picture makes me feel like I am:


The ideas behind the idea to come out with something like these were as follows:

1. I HATE giving things that are not useful no matter what the occasion. Stuff shouldn't sit around the house *PERIOD* and if it does? It should be thrown away!
2. Our theme (if you even have to categorize it) is "things that are Asian." *that kind of makes me laugh to say it like that because it sounds a little like a Family Feud category!
   
3. I LOOOOOOOVE Chinese take-out boxes. No matter the size, I just love them and think they are so fun. Also the idea that the favors are something that a person takes with them when they leave....? Nevermind.
4. My mother insisted that we incorporate chopsticks that people could keep somewhere in the wedding.
5. Both husband2be and I are from Pennsylvania originally and I actually lived in Hershey for a bit when I was young so using something of the Hershey's family is very appropriate for us.

Each little box contains (12) assorted Hershey's Hugs & Kisses of the "with almond," "standard Hugs," and "limited edition cheesecake Hug" varieties. The estimated cost of each favor is a little over $2. Not bad (I think) considering how nice they look - not too generic, not too homemade/DIY.

I filled all of the boxes last night in a little over an hour's time and now I'm at the stage of tying all of the chopsticks on with ribbons. The amazing thing is that assembling these favors has become one of my three favorite things of wedding planning! (the others being trying on wedding dresses and planning the ceremony music with the church music director). Perhaps it's because it's kind of a "mindless" thing to just kind of sit and tie little knots on sweet little boxes? Maybe it's the delicious aroma of all of the chocolate. Who knows? And surely with regard to the novelty (as they always say) - "...this too shall pass."

Whatever. I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can for all it's worth. ;-D And if you were counting? I'm now 13 days from The Big Day!!! *oh my land!* I can hardly believe it!!!!

Paperzest and Jim Hjelm...my kind of day!

I started my day with an noon appointment with my amazing invitiation designer, Christina, owner of Paperzest. She sent me a few breathtaking samples a month or so ago and today we had our follow-up meeting. The Paperzest showroom is in Herndon and it's like walking into a gorgeous living room. There's something about Christina's baby blue micro-suede sofas and graphic area rug that makes me want to sit and chat all day. If I could translplant that room into my living room, I'd be a happy camper. And as much as I love the aesthetic of her meeting space, that doesn't even compare to her invitation talent. I conveyed to her a few simple things, and what I got back was a little package of smart details and a true match for my vision. She comes very highly recommended by this bride-to-be.

Christina herself is a warm-hearted and inspirational person, which is why I'm so happy to be working with her. Here is a look at the sample and direction we're looking to go.

Then, I headed to Ellie's Bridal in Alexandria. As Miss Capitol Hill commented on my previous post, their Jim Hjelm selection left much to be desired. They only had two dresses from the most recent collection. There were maybe 20 dresses total from the past few seasons. The up side of this was that I could try on a few that were more in my price range since they were older, versus more than 3k. The downside was that I was really looking forward to trying on my dream dress and several others from the Spring 2008 collection..and might have even upped my budget if they lived up to the pictures.

The service at Ellie's was okay. You can only try on 5 dresses, so you have to go through the store and choose your favorites. Here are the two I ended up trying on from Jim Hjelm:


The were both...incredible....so much that I would spend more than I originally budgeted. The first one fit like a glove and I never wanted to take it off. It was so classicly beautiful. The second one I also adored. It's much more risque than the first, but it's a true contender.

The last dress I tried on was an Exclusive by Allure. They don't release photos of the Exclusives line on the internet because they are copies of designer dresses, according the attendant at Ellie's. She was right. I couldn't find a photo of the dress, but the Knotties came to the rescue. They started a board to house photos of the gowns, so I borrowed this from there.



This dress was gorgeous as well. The silk is so soft and the lace is very high quality. I would love to wear it with a vintage lace bolero or a satin ribbon at the waist to set off the bodice. It's half the price of the Hjelm gowns.

What do you guys think?

Ad*dress* the issue...

In a twist of fate, my dress didn't work out. There are a million details that I could go through and let myself get teary-eyed, so I'm not going to. What I will say though, was that the only good part of the whole situation was how accommodating TLC Bridal was...and understanding. I will remind you that I had ordered my dress and it had arrived when this twist of fate took place.

So the following weekend, a dear friend took me on a dress marathon. The point wasn't to buy something that day (I'm totally still mourning the loss of my old dress). The point was to make room in my mind for something else. And she was a gem for making me do it. I tried on some amazing dresses at White Swan Bridal in Vienna. The concept of the store is great. They have every dress on a mannequin so you can get an idea of how it fits, how the fabric lays, the details, etc. before you even try it on. You are free to walk around, point out the ones you like, and the attendants bring them in to you. I must have tried on 12 or so dresses. There were no photos allowed, so here are the dresses I tried on. I can’t find my favorite one anywhere…so I snuck a photo. Don’t tell! The first one is a Pattis Bridal, the second is Val Stefani Couture and the third is Casablanca.

Today I’m going to Ellie’s Bridal in Alexandria to try on Jim Hjelm dresses. Though they are out of my price range, I figure I’ll never have another reason to try them on for no reason. And there’s also part of me that wonders if I look out of this world, my dad would offer to buy it for me! Jim Hjelm has always been my favorite designer.

In other issues, my grandparents are really urging me to ditch my whole wedding plan in DC and have it on the beach at their house in Destin, Florida. It would cost half what my wedding is going to be here. They’re obviously not young and it’s going to be hard for them to travel here. I never thought myself a beach bride..but Grandma did mention floating candles in the pool…and I love that. Who knows…

A whole lot of nothing

Perhaps I should get my hand slapped for doing little to no wedding planning stuff tonight - especially after the wonderful Mrs. Nearlywed and her mister showed up last night to bail me and the husband2be out of a pretty significant disaster - but... I'm sorry. I just gotta take a break. At least tonight.

As of today we are 16 days from the wedding. There are a number of things that remain on my to-do list and a bunch of things that I could go ahead and finish up (for the most part) right now:

• Prepare and package the guest favors
• Work on the programs for the ceremony
• Figure out the seating chart and table numbers/names
• Find pictures of make-up examples for the hair and make-up team (per their request)
  
• Make appointments/reservations for the manicures and pedicures for the bridal party before the ceremony
• Find some sexy maternity lingerie (what an oxymoron!) for the honeymoon night

Obviously, especially with regard to the last one - I'm really in no state to really get anything accomplished other than eating a huge bowl of Black Cherry ice cream, eating three slices of pepperoni pizza, and chugging a glass of Concord grape juice - all things I have already done but could no doubt repeat if I'm so inclined since I AM eating and drinking for two, right?

Anyway... yeah. It's almost 9PM now and that's almost my bedtime. Technically it's my bath before bed time so I should probably be getting to that.

Hmmmm... maybe I'll drink a cup of mint chocolate hot cocoa. Mmmmmmmm :-p

*being a pregnant bride is AWESOME if only for the fact that I HAVE to gain weight (as ordered by my doctor) rather than make sure that it stays off to be able to fit into my dress* ROCK ON!!!

And The Bride Wore....Cotton??

I recently stumbled across a really unique line of bridal dresses called The Cotton Bride by designer Chris Cole. Most of us dream of silks, satins, tulle and organza (nevermind most wedding dresses are polyester blends nowadays) but the entire Cotton Bride line is made out of earth friendly natural fabrics...and the majority of the dresses really are made out of Cotton!

Looking at the dresses it's amazing what can be done with "the fabric of our lives." The cottons are from all over the world and a lot of attention is paid to details. These dresses are ideal for the "green" bride who wants to minimize the impact her wedding has on the world or even for destination brides (unlike polyester, cotton breathes in 100% humidity). The styles are modern, feminine, and flirty (say goodbye to hippie stereotypes).

The best thing is a cotton dress can easily be dyed after your wedding and turned into an entirely different dress.





I love the detail shots below.

Our Very Own Mrs. Nearlywed..

was featured in an article in today's Express, a publication from the Washington Post. There was a special section called the Wedding Guide, and the very first article is called "All Favors Say 'Aye Do': Friends don't let friends monogram wedding trinkets. Try these instead."

Congratulations Mrs. Nearlywed!!!

"My mantra toward favors is not against them, but to make them more useful and have a meaning," Johnson says. Recently, that's meant donations to charities. Often, it's a medical cause honoring a close relative's battle with a particular illness. Environmental groups are also frequent beneficiaries; they help assuage the guilt of eco-conscious folks who've just left a vast carbon footprint in the name of love. The do-gooder route is also an attractive option for tight budgets, Johnson notes. While an allotment of $1.50 per favor might mean your 200 guests will be taking home junk, a $300 donation to a charity seems more worthwhile."

"The real secret to favor success is putting some thought into them, Johnson says, which isn't always easy when dealing with the never-ending list of other concerns related to throwing this epic bash. Her most recent bull's-eye came from a couple whose invitation featured the image of a groom in a fez presenting his bride with a jewelry box. So, at the wedding, when ladies got jewelry boxes and gentlemen got fezzes, everyone felt in on the joke. Even better: They wore them onto the dance floor. "It turned into a free-for-all, with all of those tassels spinning," Johnson recalls."

Naughty Monkey for Your Wedding

While I was looking through shoes this weekend I ran across these adorable Naughty Monkey brand shoes. I especially love the Live Wire style pictured in the first two images below. I'm not in love with the wooden heel but they'd look so adorable with a more casual dress...or heck I'd just paint the wooden heel white or blue to match!






The Candyland style also caught my eye because they come in my wedding colors of green and white! But you can also get them red hot.

Dress Is In! Now What?

The good news is my dress is in! And I pick it up tomorrow! The bad news is I really have to make some hard decisions about shoes and undergarments now so I can start my fittings. I may end up wearing my beautiful Vera Wang Red Satin Pumps but I wanted to give myself options in case they didn't look good with my dress. So I spent the weekend browsing and below are some of the beauties I found. All would make for crazy good pictures!



^Anyone who is having a wedding with black accents MUST buy this shoe. I love it. It's so classically beautiful and a good height at 3.25 inches. I have to admit, I prefer to not have that bit of crystal bling on the bow but I know there are some bling lovers out there who will love it. Nine West Gohana for $83.00.

^For the red shoe lovers out there check out the hot Sidewinder from Max Studio for $120. 4 inches of Red braided Satin and I love the curve of the ankle strap.

^O.k. I have a confession to make. I bought these Lumiani Turquoise Leather heels. They were marked down to $38.94 from $97.95--I had to do it! My only worry is there wasn't a ton of information on the website about the shoes...no heel height (i want at least 3 inches and these look shorter) and I think the flower is suede from the picture (good) but the description doesn't say. We'll have to see what they look like when they come in.

^ Oh yeah they come in pink too for all you pink brides out there ;)

ebay for honeymooners

I'm so tempted to keep this one to myself, but I can't do that to y'all :o)

Luxury Link is one of the best resources I've discovered during the course of planning our wedding. Well, not really the wedding. More like the prize at the end...the honeymoon! It offers luxury vacations throughout the world at auction, with options to "buy now" or to build an a la carte getaway. With a bit of research, you can snag a really great deal to popular honeymoon destinations!

Take for instance a "buy now" offer for 6 nights in an Overwater Bungalow at the Bora Bora Pearl Resort & Spa for about $1,400 off the retail price!



Or bid on a 4 night stay in Tuscany at the Villa Mangiacane, including a private dinner for two and a spa treatment overlooking the Tuscan countryside, with the current bid at about half of the retail price!



Most packages are for two, excluding airfare and gratuities. It does usually include most transfers, some meals and special activities or services. Each listing is very thorough and details every aspect of the package you are bidding on, including any blackout dates or restrictions. A tip: any last-minute sniper bids result in an extension of the bid closing time if placed within the last 5 minutes!

Happy bidding!

Engagment Announcment...

Call me old fashion, I know that reading the paper is going "out of style" the Internet and CNN.com are the new waves of the future, but I was really excited when my mom told me she had paid for FI and I to have a wedding announcement in our Rochester , NY newspaper!

Growing up, I loved looking at the different announcements, it all seemed so romantic to me!

This morning while checking my email at work I was surprised to see my Engagement Announcement was awaiting me :) Since our Rochester newspaper doesn't distribute to D.C my brothers scanned it and sent me a copy! ( we have hard copies waiting for us in NY). I really think the engagement announcement just made it "real" seeing it there in black and white! I have it posted up in my office right now, and i get all giddy every time I look at it :)

Have any of you other brides posted an engagement announcement? FI and I are debating if we should post in the Washington post...if you are thinking of doing that here is the link!

E-SVP is awesome!!!

For the sake of efficiency and timeliness, our guests are "RSVP-ing" online instead of the traditional way by mail. This with why this is entitled "E"SVP instead! E is like for email!

To be technical, they aren't responding with email but rather with an online system created by the company that hosts our wedding website called WeddingTracker.com. When I began wedding planning I knew that I wanted to have a wedding website for the sheer purpose of convenience that was possible for communication between myself and any of the guests. I was a little hesitant to pay the $65/year that they promote for their package deal of having a self-selected domain and all but then I found it via the knot shop on TheKnot.com for around $39.95 with a special coupon code (that's ALWAYS there so look for it and hook yourself up!!!) and I thought that that was much more reasonable and went with it.

I have extensive experience in web design and graphic design and could have designed a site from scratch for us but WeddingTracker actually has some pretty cool templates that you can be customized in a number of ways that it seemed like a waste of my time to do any of it from scratch. And I'm so glad that it worked out this way because had I designed my own site, I probably wouldn't have had this option for the guests.

Perhaps this option isn't ideal for all people for the sake of tradition or people who are still not yet internet savvy but it's a nice alternative method to provide people who don't do "snail mail" anymore. You just go to the wedding website, have people log in with their last names and zip codes and they can just "point and click" with their reply and even choose their menu selection if you are having that option! It can save on stamps and also time as it also allows you to itemize and print lists of people who have responded or not.

Whatever the case, it's something to consider. Technology can truly be a wonderful thing when it can actually help you to work SMARTER and not harder!

252 Days To Go...

That is what the Knot informed me of how far away my nuptials are...252 days..not that bad right? Considering all I have done, I was feeling pretty calm this morning when I saw that. Than my stationary lady contacted me...our save the date samples are in...we get to choose between 5 different Save the dates ( not going to lie 4 of them looked exactly the same!). Great...easy part done...now I am left with two questions.

1. How many do we order

and

2. Do we address them ourselves or do we have our stationary lady address them?

These might seem like the easiest questions in the world, but let me tell you they have been driving me crazy! For example, we are inviting between 160-180 people, a lot are couples though...so do we just send one save the date to the couple? Obviously, if they live together but what about those couples where we are friends with both of them, do we send each individual a save the date?

Also, the addressing them ourselves its a .50 - .75 cent difference each ( not THAT big of a deal, but it can add up) if we want her to address them, or we can go about doing it on our own. I'm just worried that my "self addressing" will ruin the whole picture! Does anybody have any great ideas of how to do a "wrap around" on your own?


Anyways, this is where I stand--Tomorrow at work I'm going to try and figure out how to post the 5 different options for the save the dates but black out fiances and mine name :)

My Vendors - Real Wedding

I was super excited to read this month's issue of the VA/MD/DC Knot magazine. Why? Cause my venue, the Clifton Inn, and my florist Blue Ridge Floral was featured! You put a lot of faith and trust in your vendors and you think you've made the right decisions but it's always reassuring to see a beautiful wedding done by the people you hired. For more pictures you can look here.

All photos from the very talented Adam Barnes Photography

penguin tails and morning coats

For those looking for tuxedo rentals, Men's Wearhouse is offering a great incentive. If you sign up for their Perfect Fit rewards program, you receive $20 off every tux rental! You also get $50 off for every $500 you spend at Men's Wearhouse stores.

This is so helpful, especially for couples that are footing the tux rentals for their groomsmen (like us). The program also keeps track of measurements (for the perpetual groomsman) and gives a $10 birthday gift certificate :o)

The site also offers a group manager that allows you to track all the rentals for your wedding party. You can see who has (or hasn't) gone in to get fitted and the different ensembles (if any) chosen for each individual. It also allows you to send (friendly!) reminder emails to any slackers that are waiting to get fitted till the very last minute. All you need to do is call any Men's Wearhouse store to get a group registration code.

MH receives mixed reviews on the knot and various wedding blogs, but FI has always had a great experience with them! We usually go to the one in Rockville but there are many throughout the metropolitan area.

Too Much Tattoo?

In high school, I was a little…different. I often visited my neighbor’s home for tea and Mehendi. She’d cover my palms in ornate designs and we’d chat about life. At 16, I’d go into school, a German/Irish blonde, with amazing henna tattoos displayed on my hands, as if I were to be married to a sheik within hours. This type of tattoo originated in Egypt, India and the Middle East.

I've never been a fan of permanent tattoos for myself. I've seen beautiful ones and not so beautiful ones on many people. Fiance has one on his shoulder that says in beautiful Arabic script, "I put my trust in God." Though he’s not of Arabic decent, it’s always been coincidentally funny to me how he has been drawn to the beauty of the language and the aesthetic of the art from that culture. We both studied Arabic in college before we ever met. And this coincidence is just one in a thousand that assure me God created Fiance and I for each other, that we’ve always grown to love the same things even before we met.

So now, as the wedding gets closer, there has been talk by Fiance of wanting to get a second tattoo, and the occasional question of whether or not I will get one, too…and we’re not talking about getting tattoos of each other’s names or anything wedding or us-related at all. Just a general tattoo.

I’ve been thinking about surprising him on our wedding day by having my feet covered in traditional henna tattoos…

...and also getting a real one. Something he wouldn’t know about until our wedding night. I’ve been bouncing ideas around of what, exactly, I would get..considering I have a father who has on many occasions told me he would disown me if I ever got one. It’s not something I ever even expected myself to consider. Whatever I get, it'll be small and unable to been seen in a two piece bathing suit.

I could pull an Angelina Jolie and tattoo the latitude and longitude of the place we first met or where we exchange our vows, like she did with the birthplaces of her children.

I could get his name in the same Arabic script he has. I could get his life’s mantra, “It’s not what you look at, but what you see.” Any thoughts? Have you guys ever seen anything cool that’s not too overdone and small enough for a very apprehensive tattoo-ee?

Congratulations Sundonia and Jerome

What a weekend! We packed our bags and headed South for a Warm Winter Night themed wedding. Ok, so it was only a little South... When I come I guess I have to shake things up because the snow followed me. Sundonia and Jerome were married in Newport News, VA amidst a snowy backdrop. It was absolutely beautiful. Pictures to come.

We were also absolutely thrilled to be accompanied by a crew from

Many, many thanks to Cristin and the gang for a whirlwind few days of wedding mania. You can't write this stuff.

I can't tip my hat or let my lips slip with the details but I do promise to give everyone the heads up when the show airs.

Having my cake

There was a time when we were having a little less than 50 people at our wedding. There was also a time when I was going to bake our cutting cake myself.

Both times are now passed. Why? Because...

1. We've got much more than 50 people coming to the wedding now
2. I pretty much stink at baking/cooking anything that isn't from a box

We happen to belong to a church with a ridiculous amount of resourceful types in the congregation and one of our associate pastors happened to marry a lovely lady a few years back who just happens to be a really terrific baker of specialty cakes!!!

Amidst conversations of me relaying the latest drama to some of my friends at church, she was passing by and said, "You're making your own wedding cake??? Let ME do it for you!!! I do it on the side, have all the 'stuff' AND the experience!!!" *Okay, okay... twist my arm why don't you! Fine! You can make my cake already! ;)*

Truly this is exactly what I needed. Who am I trying to kid anyway? How did I think that this was going to be something possible for me to do the day before because it's not like I have nothing else to fuss and worry about, right? I am completely ridiculous and this wedding has made me more so.

Anyway, way back when I was going to make it myself, I went to WendyKromer.com and got two sets of Cherry Blossom kits (24 flowers per set):

Since we're going with an overall Asian theme for decor and things AND we live in the DC area, we thought the cherry blossoms for the cake would be really pretty and appropriate. I was planning on just icing the cake and then sticking them randomly (but decoratively) all over the place.

With us now commissioning this job out to someone professional, huband2be and I scoured the internet for pictures for her to go from and as it so turns out, husband2be is very particular about this part of the wedding. *who knew?* We found this picture and he's hoping that we can have something similar to this:


Now, I'm seriously against fondant and obviously this cake has that going for it. Kelly (our cake maven) said she does a really delicious French vanilla cake with a white icing and strawberry shortcake-like fruit filling. We're figuring that with the ready made blossoms that we have for her, perhaps it will be less labor for decorations. We are paying her *of course* but since this is kind of last minute and she's really helping us out, we'd like to not put her out too much.

So... that's our cake. Or at least close to it. We will *of course* take a picture when we finally see it.

Our quaint little beginning

I was going to entitle this along the lines of a "happy ending" but isn't a marriage a beginning more than an ending? ;)

I just got off the phone and done with our mini-moon (aka honeymoon) reservations. Because I'll be nearly six months pregnant when we get married in about three week (CRAZY!) and I've had health problems that have required me to take so much time off already and we can't be traveling anyplace where our doctors won't be, we're staying local and doing a mini-moon of sorts.

It's not the ideal for a honeymoon but we are the kind of folks who makes the best of whatever life deals us and no matter what people might think of our plans, we are SUPER CRAZY INCREDIBLY excited about them!

We have decided to stay at the The Charles Inn of Annapolis for the wedding night and one additional night following it. We spent the last hour or so looking at possibilities ranging from hotel suites in downtown DC to quaint little B&B's in surrounding areas.

I have been trying to upload some pictures from the website of what totally made us both fall in love with The Charles Inn but for whatever reason, blogger just isn't cooperating. Click HERE to see the room called "Holly" where we will be staying. It's just what we were imagining and thought we couldn't find. The bed is one of those high postered kind and then has a corner jacuzzi tub-for-two. Who knows how much of the amenities we will actually use since I will be on the very pregnant-side, but... it's a beautiful place for us to start our new life together. :)

In time, and once the baby is born, we will take a much longer honeymoon to a much more exotic location than downtown Annapolis (or as the locals call it, "DTA") but for our own needs right now with my "high-risk" pregnancy and new puppy at home that can't be left alone or boarded so easily, a quaint little place on a quiet Annapolis street with a "tub-for-two" is just perfect for us.

:)

Here's to a new and BEAUTIFUL beginning for our newlywedded year together. *sigh* This has made life so much sweeter again. ;)

---

Addendum: Blogger is working now!!! Here are some picture of our room as shown via the link above!

Taking the Shine Off

I know that Fiance wants to look his best in our wedding pics (doesn't everybody?) but it would never occur to him to do any beauty prep before the wedding and even the mention of any type of makeup the day off would have him running for the door. The problem is Fiance can get pretty oily skin and he has a large forehead so in a lot of pictures of himself he often has some major shine going on.
So unbeknownst to him I picked up some of the below Boscia Fresh Blotting Linens for him.

These woven linen sheets are 100% natural and all you have to do is rub them on your face and they absorb any excess oil. They come 100 per pack and they come in great scents like Rose , Orange, Lilac, and Peppermint. I got fiance the "fresh" scent since it came in a more masculine looking box and doesn't imply anything girly like Lilac does. What I like about these is that they don't have any powder (Fiance would consider powder as "make-up" and would never use it).

I wasn't sure how they'd work, but the other day Fiance was complaining about how oily his skin was before we left for an event so I said "well why don't you try those oil sheets I got you?" So he did and I was really amazed how well it worked! So was he! He had to use two sheets but it really did cut down on the shine. He went from major oil to natural good glow.

These (or any other brand) would make a great little gift for your groom or yourself (supposedly they don't disturb make-up). I have pretty dry skin normally but I might steal one or two before the photos just to make sure.

The Bridal Event at The Willard (oh-so-beautiful) InterContinental

During a wedding-related shopping day this weekend, I found out about a great bridal event sponsored by Engaged! Magazine coming up at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel. Special guests will include Preston Bailey and Sylvia Weinstock, which is enough to make me want to cancel all my plans for Sunday, January 27th.

Tickets are $55 and can be purchased on the Engaged! Website. I know it says you have to RSVP by January 14th, but tickets are still available, so don't worry. It's from 11:00am to 6pm and includes a four-course plated tea.

The Engaged! Website is great in general. You can check out local weddings and get tons of inspiration, or check out the running list of trunk shows and gown sales in DC, Maryland and Virginia. You can also read archived issues of magazine in their entirety!

And...if you haven't seen the Willard InterContinental, there's a suite I would DIE to spend the eve of my wedding and wedding night enjoying. The Jenny Lind suite is around $2,500 a night, but the wedding photos I've seen from this bedroom are amazing...namely this one by Michael Bennett Kress...

Even the stock hotel photos of this suite amaze me, not to mention the view from the bathroom.

Two high notes, and one (sort of) low one

HIGH note
I'm in the process of drawing up the song list that we will have for the wedding and as I listen to some of my favorite songs, I'm all kinds of nostalgic about why I'm getting married to husband2be. We're 22 days away!!!!

Both are going on our list but both would also be suitable for a photo montage if you're doing one and in need of some good songs

Michael Buble - "Everything"

I might be a little behind the times on this one but I only heard this song about two weeks ago one time on 97.1 I love how fun it is and how meaningful the lyrics are. I could totally see it playing in the background of some fun pictures.

And then there's one of my all-time favorites:
Michelle Featherstone - "We Are Man and Wife"

I don't watch Grey's Anatomy but I think it was featured on there. I think it's an amazingly beautiful song and though I couldn't find the actual video for it (I don't know if there even is one), it's shown here with clips from the show "One Tree Hill." It's a total teeny-bopper show but I actually watched it at one time and even watching it with the song a few minutes ago had me a little misty-eyed. I thought it was sweetly done.

low Note
*HEAVY sigh*

I just got a phone call from a family member of mine who is NOT on the guest list but who was seemingly RSVP-ing. I know - what the?????? This person didn't even get an invitation and found out about it through another family member (one of the few on my dad's side for very specific reasons not having to do with drama or issues) about the wedding and the new plans. She's a cousin of mine and I like her but wouldn't call us close. However, she seems to feel like she's invited *somehow? I don't know how?* and is coming ALL THE WAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA to the wedding.

*?????????????*

I have no idea what to do. I think that we can accommodate her live-in boyfriend and her but I just can't get over how she is doing this. I would NEVER do this and I have never heard of this happening to anyone!!! The good news at least is that one of my other cousins (who was actually invited) will not be able to make it because he's in med school and it's right in the midst of finals week. Soooooo... it end up working out okay even though, technically, she was definitely not invited.

*throws hands up*

This wedding is crazy. It's NUTS. Excuse me while I go and watch those youtube video's and try and calm my nerves.

I think I might also eat a couple of pieces of dark chocolate as well.

Restaurant Week in DC

Restaurant week ends on Sunday, so if you haven't yet, check out this website and make reservations at that 4 star place you've always wanted to try. Three course meals are only $20 for lunch and $30 for dinner. It's a great opportunity to try something new for your wedding menu!

Restaurants include Vidalia, Bistro Bis and Kinkead's.

Little details

We're officially 23 days from the wedding. I'm trying not to think about it too much as when I started to it makes me hyperventilate a little bit. And goodness knows that I gotta keep that to a minimum when I'm doing things like breathing for two.

Today I ordered two more items for The Big Day:

My "glass slippers" *haha*

...and the other ring bearer's "pillow."

I'm completely aware of the fact that the above items are far from what I called them but as far as I'm concerned, for us? They are exactly as indicated.

I decided to go with the Converse as originally planned because my eldest brother called me up and asked if he could still do the black Converse for the boys to go along with their tuxes. I'm really glad that he did this because I've wanted to do this all along but I kind of let go of the idea because I felt like it would be more of a nuisance than what it would be worth. The original plan was for the three of us to wear Converse - their's in black and mine in some kind of decorative/fun pattern. It was a real surprise to hear my brother still wanted to do it but, like I said, it's a really awesome thing to be able to keep this. It was one of my original ideas and one of my favorites as Converse are sort of a "thing" in my family and with my brothers and me. So, I'll be wearing the Converse as pictured above. I found them on ebay and I ordered them this afternoon. I considered the elephant printed ones because I love elephants so much but I'm getting my fill of those by doing the nursery with them. I think the "black sheep" print is plenty fitting though as I'm going to be "the pregnant bride" who is wearing anything but the traditional swanky shoe. :)

And then there's our other ring bearer. The older one is carrying the ring bearer pillow that is being passed around the family and was originally made from husband2be's grandmother who is no longer with us. But that left the other ringbearer without something to carry! We considered getting a nice bible - that would be our "family" bible in time - but then thought of getting little stuffed animals to represent the likenesses of our pets. Also, with the one ringbearer and the other flowergirl being pretty young (4 years old and 1.5 years old) we figured it might be easier for them to walk down the aisle carrying something a little more fun and cuddly.

The flowergirl is carrying a plush black kitty that I got months ago right around Halloween time but we had a hard time finding a German Shepherd plush that looked like our dog. I found the one pictured above on StuffedArk.com. (We got the Large-16" size so that each plush animal would be as close in relative size as possible.) They have a great inventory of assorted varieties of just about any animal you could think of so even if you aren't doing what we're doing and wanted to just find a gift for the littlest members of your wedding, I'm sure you could find some really cute things on the site.

This weekend is my final dress fitting and I'm also going to be attempting to locate a decent flowergirl basket. So far I've seen many but liked hardly any of them. I might just break down and buy whatever because it's coming down to the line too much for me to be picky! Who knows how it will end up going down though. For however it's happening, things are seeming to really fall into place beautifully and some of the stuff that I've really felt like are the most important and I've been sorry to have to let go of are working out! Perhaps I will find a flowergirl basket that I like afterall. We shall see.

Awesome Invitations and a Little Inspiration

I ran across these awesome invitations/menus/favors on the amazing Laura Novak's photography blog. What's so awesome about them besides the obvious coolness of etched wood? They were done by the bride and groom! Yep, that's right. Handmade. Where was I when the Martha genes were given out?

If you like the look, but also missed out on the Martha genes then check out Oslo Press.

All photos below credited to Laura Novak Photography



As an aside Laura herself will be getting married in a couple of weeks and judging by the vendors she has chosen her wedding is going to be AMAZING. I often wonder what wedding professionals choose for their own weddings. After all, they've seen everything a million times so what really catches their eyes? Well below is a picture of Laura's wedding invitations from Two Paper Dolls. I'd be thrilled to get something that beautiful in the mail.


And If you are loving her invites then you should take a peak at her inspiration board. I love the classic yet feminine feeling it evokes.


Finally, I know I've said it a million times but when looking for a photographer don't be afraid to look beyond the D.C., VA, MD area. There is amazing talent right outside our borders. Laura Novak is based out of Delaware and that is just a stone's throw away. Most photographers will gladly travel from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Delaware...you get the picture ;)

The more the merrier...

I'm not sure how many people there are like me out there, but I feel I can't be too rare. I have my best Friends from HS, My best Friends from College and My best friends from the "real world". Now in each of these groups there are about 2-3 Core friends, not to mention the 5-6 peripheral friends. However, take 2-3 core friends in each group and you have a pretty large bridal party.

At first I listened to everybody when they said "don't even THINK about having more then 7 girls in your bridal party", I painfully sat there and tried to figure out who was my "better" friend, it was painful. It involved more crying and thinking than anything else. My fiance told me "screw what people thing its your wedding do it", but i was a naive "have to follow everyone else" bride-to-be, and i went ahead with just 7 girls ( keep in mind one is FI sister ).

I made two of my closest friends readers, another one is going to be a greeter...but there were still two friends I didn't mention the word "bridal party" to, i didn't update our website with the bridal party, i didn't pick out dresses, I just knew my wedding wouldn't feel right without them standing up next to me.

Finally this past weekend I had an epiphany. I was back at my Alma mater, dropping off a friends sister to start her freshman year of college,it made me very sentimental and reflective. I realized, I didn't care what people said, I wanted my best friends to be up there on that day. I got on the phone right than and there and I asked them.

I am so happy with my choice. I feel that I am so lucky to really have that many girls I consider my close Friends. Every single one of them I talk to almost daily, if not weekly. Since I already had two maids of honors the walking down the aisle part was easy (one on each side of the best man) and FI has 8 groomsman, so it all works out :) I finally feel so at ease!

Have any of you encountered a problem where you were going against the "norm" or a time when you just Had to stop caring what everyone else thought and go with your gut? If you are ever in that situation I recommend you go with your gut, because you only get married once, it should be everything you dream of.

*on a side not my mom and aunt are taking "make your own bouquet class" and they will be making my Bridesmaids bouquets, saving us hundreds of dollars!

^ Photo Courtesy of Shells By Hand --An idea of what my Bridal Party could look like ( this is actually a lil bit bigger) It sure looks like fun to me! :)

Are you on The List? For my wedding invitations, that is!

Last night I prepared the invitations to be mailed. *please don't even mention the fact that I should have done this at least three weeks ago!* So they're stamped and sealed and ready to be delivered. The only bad thing about them is that I couldn't find a decent pen to use other than one of the free ones that end up laying around the house. And I couldn't find my "collection" of nice Sharpie markers. So what did I use? How about one of the "Super Tips" Washable Crayola markers set that I have in my art cabinet for coloring pictograms. *sigh*

Since we've moved all of my good art materials are everywhere not to be found. This kind of things drives me crazy only every so often but when things like this come up? Where I need something SO specific like my good art pens? I try to just feel like it's a "pick your battles" kind of thing and not be upset about it because in the long run it really isn't worth it.

I'm hoping that nobody (like my parents or his parents) gets upset when they get them, like, "Did she REALLY use coloring markers to address these???" I'm hoping that they pass off as a calligraphy marker *maybe* and just looks like I didn't know how to use it. :) *shrug* Wishful thinking - works for me!!! And might I add that I only sort of messed up on TWO of the envelopes on the return address part!!! One was two my one uncle from North Carolina - who I'm certain doesn't know the whole thing about wedding invitations and how they work because he's not even from this country and the other on one of my best friends' invitations because she will probably laugh even harder since she will be able to tell that I used Crayola markers to address them. At least I used my *nice* cursive writing and didn't just print them. They managed to look a little bit fancy. *trust me - they do!* They actually look a little like the font called "Slash" It's like free-flowing kind of script!!!

Whatever. I'm getting to the point where accomplishing ANYthing is a big deal and should be celebrated HARDCORE. Ahhhh... the joys of wedding planning.

Fun Flower Girls

I haven't started seriously looking for flower girl dresses yet, but I have been keeping an eye out. Some of the things I don't want - anything that looks like a mini-wedding dress for children, anything that's insanely priced (for me this is anything anywhere near $100 for a child's piece of clothing), and I wanted something that would make for good photos.

I've been casually browsing my usual haunts like Nordstrom.com, Macys.com, etc. and then I decided to check out Dillards.com. We don't have Dillards in this part of the country, but we do in my home state. I don't know if it's because I'm originally from the south and we southerners love dressing up little girls (early and often), but Dillards had a much wider selection, a MUCH more creative selection, and a much CHEAPER selection.

Here are some of the cutie choices I'm loving for spring -



^Rare Editions European Print Dress - $45.00

^Bonnie Jean Dot Dress - $38.00 . This one is a serious contender since it has my wedding color green in it.

^Bonnie Jean Floral Dress - $36.00

^Bonnie Jean Dot Trimmed Gingham Dress - $36.00

Split ends and freak outs

About an hour ago I was forecasting my lesson plans for the next month or so and laying out all of the days in my class planning book when I realized that the wedding is something like THREE WEEKS AWAY!!!

*dies*

I know. The drama, the drama - quit with THE DRAMA. But the thing is, I feel like it's warranted!

Yesterday I spent a lot of time itemizing things of the wedding as I was filling out this form that helped me to inventory all of the things of the wedding and after I got done with it and submitted it, I realized that I've got so much to do!!!

• Pay the wedding bands up and pick them up
• Final fitting for the dress
• Pay the balance for the flowers
• Figure out what to do about the one flower girl basket
• Order the plush German Shepherd for the 2nd ring bearer to carry (to represent our dog)
• Final fitting for husband2be's tux
• SEND OUT the INVITATIONS ALREADY (goodness gracious am I embarrassed about this one!)
• Figure out what I'm wearing on my feet
• Figure out what I'm doing with my hair!
• BOOK a hairstylist and makeup person
• Book a TRIAL for the hairstyle and makeup
• Figure out the table settings/decorations
• Assemble the guest favors
• Make a *stupid* program for the ceremony
• Figure out ceremony music and confirm with church music director
• Place ceremony details with the pastor
• Get the marriage license taken care of
• And all of that other stuff having to do with being pregnant and going to the doctor's and junk

Get the drift???

I also think that I have split ends and need to (somewhere in there) squeeze in a haircut.

If we had kept our original wedding plans and I were four months away from The Big Day, things might not be so bad. But now? I feel like I'm in some really badly written "Chick-lit" book and I'm racing against the clock to pull off "the impossible wedding" or something. This can't be real life. It can't be!

Did I also mention that I'm supposed to be planning a middle school CHEERLEADING competition routine too???

Seriously -

Planning a wedding is one thing, but there is nothing amusing or wonderful about a fat pregnant cheerleading coach trying to choreograph a "bump and grind" routine to a remixed version of Kanye West's "Stronger."

the kitchen basics

I looooove food blogs. Just love them. For anyone who likes to cook, try new recipes or considers themselves "foodies," there are tons of food blogs out there that provide awesome inspiration and ideas. They are also quite informative--for those of you planning to register soon, here are a few entries that might help you with the "must-haves." Lindy Turban wrote a three-part series on her kitchen essentials. It runs through the basic and not-so-basic tools she uses and loves, along with a helpful note about each one. Take a look!

Part One: Equipment

Part Two: Utensils

Part Three: Baking and Roasting

Elle & Anne Handbags and Such

I'm digging the line of preppy-chic bags from Virginia based designer Elle & Anne Handbags and Such. The line of totes, clutches, wallets & such are each handcrafted and totally customizable in over 50 fabrics. You can also add monograms and extra pockets. These would make great bridesmaid gifts (give each girl a different style to match their lifestyle). You can even have a specility bridal bag made for yourself. Most bags are in the $70-80 range and smaller accessories are as cheap as $10.

Is Your Ring DeBeers??

Did your honey purchase your ring via DeBeers? If so, PLEASE read the following.

People who have bought diamonds any time between January 1, 1994, and March 31, 2006 may be in for a little return on their purchase. De Beers has settled a class action lawsuit for $295 million. Under the terms of the settlement individual consumers and members of the diamond trade can make a claim. The settlement is the result of a lawsuit which said that the South African company charged anticompetitive prices for the rough diamonds it sold, monopolized the rough diamond market, and disseminated false and misleading advertising. De Beers has not admitted to any wrongdoing. The rewards can be substantial, WNBC reports that a consumer who bought a $2,000 ring could get as much as $640 back. There is a settlement website for claims, which provides details on who might be eligible and those interested in filing must do so before March 19.

[via Luxist]

Eloping would be nice!

Isn't there just always drama?

We picked up our wedding invitations from the post office yesterday. They are beautiful and the invitation designer did a really amazing job on them. This is despite the back and forths that happened in the midst of having them printed and assembled like having our reception venue and caterer cancel on us. *sigh*

I'm a pretty undramatic person without hardly trying. But this wedding is really getting the better of me and I'm just about turning into one of "those girls" who says things like, "I CAN'T. WAIT. for this wedding to be OVER!!!"

Last night husband2be and I didn't get in until 2AM. No, not because we were "partying," rather because I was working/shooting a bat mitzvah and he was assisting me since a pregnant lady trying to do event photography can look kind of pathetic and I was trying to look as unpathetic as possible.

This morning has been okay enough but then I get a call from my mother about what I most affectionately have started calling, "that wedding." Yes - I mean MY wedding but, like I said before, it's starting to leave a seriously bad taste in my mouth.

Anyway, today's drama is about the guest list. We have the invitations now but even having a 50-person cap on the list, there's still plenty to be said about who else can be slid onto the bottom of the list. Husband2be's side of the family is kind of bigger than my side. This is kind of a relative way to describe it (pun not intended but completely applicable). My immediate family is sort-of big and twice the size of his. But his extended family is huge compared to mine (that would have been invited) and they are so close to each other that any time there is an event, ALL of them have to come - that's at least 50 people!!! But when you've got only 25 invites/50 people of which can be invited, that doesn't work out so well.

So... my point... because I do have one... is that my side of the family is now pushing for two more people to come. The solution that was presented to me was that the 50 people should be divided evenly and each person should get 25 people to invite. In theory this would work if both of our families were the same in number with immediate and extended families. Also, it would work if there were only guests at our wedding but there's not. There's also best friends who were originally supposed to be in the wedding party and vendors who some people might not consider to be important but I consider to be VERY IMPORTANT because 1) they are helping to make the wedding happen and 2) I have experience being a vendor and therefore have great respect for vendors across the board.

*OW!!!!* I just tried to put my feet up on the coffee table and I stubbed my toe!!!!!

*sigh*

Pardon me while I ignore the drama, take a break from "life" and watch "Ghostbusters" on TV. Also, the rest of this Godiva White Chocolate bar will make me feel better. *wink*

Height and Comfort?

Many a businesswoman (and Oprah) have praised the Cole Haan line of Nike Air Dress Air shoes. These are dress shoes (heels!) made with the same technology and padding that a Nike Air sneaker is made with. Previously, they really only made shoes that were appropriate for work and not weddings, but that's all changed.

Below is the Cole Haan Nike Air Sari Air Sling . The shoe comes in Ivory Satin, with a satin-covered heel and slender platform. It's 3 3/4 inches so it will definitely provide the height us shorties are craving but it has Nike Air cushioning. The only downside? The asking price of $325. This is consistent with the price of most Cole Haan shoes but it's still a pretty penny to drop on shoes.

I'm going to keep my eye on this one and wait for a sale.

Bella Figura New 08 Line

If you liked the Bella Figura inspiration from the below post, be sure to check out Bella Figura's new 08 invitations. They have 16 new designs and they are all gorgeous! Here's just a sample-

Save the Dates Sent

Right before the holiday break Fiance and I finally got around to sending out our Save the Dates. We used the below design from Bella Figura as inspiration, but naturally we changed the red to kelly green and changed some of the other details like adding "invitation to follow" and the location of the wedding.

As much as I love letterpress and other nice papers I had to cut the budget somewhere after splurging on my dress and letterpress just wasn't possible. Luckily my sister was easily able to recreate the simple design in a publishing program she uses on her computer and we printed the design on good cardstock. They came out really well and I loved the contrast of the bright green against the white.



For the invitations we are going to use the below design, also from Bella Figura as inspiration. We'll probably change the flower motif but I love the simplicity of the rest of the design.

It's the final countdown!

Not sure where everyone else with their planning and their prospective dates but as of today I'm officially 29 days away from being married away! *YIKES!* Actually things are coming together quite well. Despite all of the recent snafus, it's like all of my prayers are being answered.

We've become quite the shipping and receiving hub for wedding things and it's pretty exciting to constantly have a package that is waiting. Granted, we know what everything is since we ordered all of them but still - I've always fancied getting things in the mail.

Our most recent shipment was from AsianIdeas.com with (almost) all of the makings for the guest favors. Despite my best efforts to rally for the guest favors to be charitable donations, my mother is insistent that we do something more expected in the way of a tangible gift. Originally we were going to do personal sized bamboo steamer baskets with gourmet chocolate fortune cookies but the order time on the cookies might be too much to wait for the time we have left to the wedding, so it's been decided that the guests will be receiving the following:

The boxes are the tiniest size that you can get in a restaurant that usually holds a little bit of rice. My mother wanted to do personalized chopsticks (ex. "Sticking together with love!" or something else lame like that) *rolls eyes* but it was honestly too expensive so I just went with the prettiest design that I liked. The takeout boxes will be filled with Hershey's hugs and kisses *hugs and kisses... awwwww!*. Husband2be doesn't really think that a little note should be attached and thinks they are fine as is but I feel like there needs to be a ribbon of some sort anchoring the sticks to the boxes somehow and a tag that says something to the guests of thanks. He's likely to win this battle seeing as how making those little labels does require more time and effort than I have.

I think our wedding invitations are in at the post office and we just have to pick them up. The flowers have been paid for and will be delivered the Thursday before the wedding and the cake decorations will be shipped two weeks before.

The rest of what's on our list that still needs to be done is the following:

• marriage license
• pick up wedding bands
• final fitting for dress
• schedule hair and makeup appointment
  
• find flower girl basket
• final meeting with reception restaurant/caterer
• order plush German Shepherd for other ring bearer

Surely there are a few more things that I can't think of now but I'd say we are in pretty decent shape for the most part.

I'll keep you posted of developments, of course. ;)

Love Ya.... But.....

Oprah leaves boyfriend Stedman out of her will

	Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham are pictured together in September 2002. According to the National Enquirer, O isn't leaving a dime of her $2 billion fortune to her significant other of 21 years.
Frank Micelotta / Getty Images file

MSNBC contributors

updated 10:43 p.m. ET, Wed., Jan. 9, 2008

Fearing that her estimated $2 billion fortune would be squandered in the event of her untimely passing, Oprah Winfrey’s leaving nothing to chance. The talk-show titan recently prepared her will, and according to the National Enquirer, she’s left a significant someone out of it completely.

Charities and yet-to-be adopted children stand to benefit the most from the enormous estate, while Stedman Graham, O’s partner for the last 21 years, allegedly won’t see a dime.

Someday, Oprah plans to adopt three daughters and raise them alone, an insider told the Enquirer. “It’s something she has always wanted to do,” said the source. “There’s no talk of her adopting the children with Stedman — this is something she’s going to do by herself.”

While Oprah sees to the girls’ future, Stedman must live out his days eking by on his own substantially smaller fortune earned from his career as a best-selling author and motivational speaker.

Absolutely HILARIOUS

Throughout time there have been a variety of ways, in polite society, to subtly display your sexual orientation or availability. The often hard-to-interpret systems of flowers, handkerchiefs and strategically placed body piercings can finally give way to something a little more straightforward. The Sexuality cufflinks let you say it all with a twist of the wrist. One cuff has a variety of orientations including: straight, bisexual, gay, transexual, swinger and curious. The other displays your availability on a scale which includes single, married, desperate, divorced, available and adulterous. The silver cufflinks sells for $175.

Courtesy of Luxist

Vera Wang Losing Her Edge???

It was this same week two years ago that we first heard about the opening of Vera Wang's first lifestyle boutique at the Halekulani resort in Waikiki. The small 600-suare-foot boutique sold clothing, sunglases, jewelry fragrance, china and crystal but will now close after selling off the store's inventory. In an article by Fashion Week Daily, Donna Bebber, the boutique's owner said that Wang's decision to discontinue her high-end jewelry line led to a drop in sales. Bebber has three years left on a five-year lease with the hotel that says she can only stock Vera Wang merchandise but hopes to change the lease so she can add other products. If not, the boutique will be permanently closed. In the two years since the Vera Wang boutique opened, the brand has spread all over the place including a low-priced fashion line at Kohl's and Bebber mentioned that some customers may have felt that she is spreading herself too thin.

Courtesy of Luxist

Real Simple Weddings - The Book Review

Subtitle: Spending my money so you don't have to.

As Mrs. Nearlywed mentioned below Real Simple Weddings went on sale today at Crate and Barrel. They call it a "magazine" but it's softbound, 160 pages, and around $13 so it really is more like a book.

I was really excited for this b/c I like the "Real Simple" style of life. My expectations were for a lot of inspiring images of simple yet elegant weddings that wouldn't break the bank and similar bits of advice and hints on how to achieve such a look.

Here are my 2 cents. The book in general is more of a "I just got engaged, now what?" type of book. So it has chapters on things like Venue, Invitations, Registry, etc. It includes things like a wedding timeline, what dresses are flattering to each figure, what flowers are in season etc.

What I Didn't Like:

1)Each chapter starts with advice on "how to chose X." I found a lot of the information a bit too simplistic for any bride who has thought about her wedding. For example, in the venue section they devote two pages to types of venues and they say you can have it traditional (church), at home, destination, or "quirky." Then it gives the pros and cons of each. Do you really need a book to tell you this?

2)Similarly, each chapter has a "questions" section. In general I find almost all "question" sections of bridal websites, magazines, books, etc. too simplistic. This wasn't an exception. There are questions like "do I have to do a bouquet toss?" or "is it possible to get an inexpensive dress that doesn't look cheap?"
Are there any brides out there that really can't answer these questions themselves? Is any bride really up at night thinking about this stuff? What is the answer going to be? "If you don't do a bouquet toss your wedding will end in divorce"? "Only expensive dresses look nice"? Of course not, so why put these softballs in a book? Don't get me wrong, there are hard questions out there but these never get answered in print.

3) My biggest disappointment- The pictures! As I had hoped they did showcase a handful of "Real Simple" weddings. But each wedding got a small paragraph of a description and then one page of thumbnail size photos. Wedding books are all about the eye candy and I could tell that some of these pictures would be great but they were so small you really couldn't soak them all in. There were some full page pictures at the beginning of the chapters but other then that the rest of the photos were more on the smallish side.


What I liked -

1) Each page has a "Save Money" or "Save Stress" hint. I actually, thought some of these were pretty useful. Like square envelopes can cost up to 17 cents more to mail then rectangular envelopes. Who knew?

2) Their registry information is for real people. I hate registry lists that say stuff like you need "12 white wine glasses, 12 red wine, 12 water glasses, 12 snifters, 12 cordial glasses, 12 whisky glasses," etc. It's like, seriously who needs all this? Their registry is short, sweet, and "real simple." It's the things you ACTUALLY need and will probably use the most.

3) They recommend some good money saving websites you don't normally see mentioned in typical wedding books. Like VeilShop.com. Us brides have known about this great secret for getting reasonably priced veils for a while but most magazines just want to sell us $500 veils so they don't mention these gems. I found most of the Real Simple store/website recommendations spot on for a "Real Simple" bride.

4) Even though the weddings they featured don't have the best pictures, they really are "Real Simple." There aren't any $5,000 dresses, no huge ballrooms with uplighting and gigantic flower displays, no over the top decorations, etc. Just classically elegant soirees. They even feature a "pot luck" wedding!


Final Opinion
Overall I'd say save your $13. Most of the information is either self evident or easily found online for free. In fact you can find MANY parts of the book on the wedding section of the "Real Simple" website! Seriously, some of the exact same pictures and articles. Just look for the articles with "Real Simple Weddings" in the title. The other articles are good also, though, so read them too!

Real Simple Weddings - On Sale Now

Advance copies go on sale today at Crate and Barrel, another wedding book for $12.95 yup, this one is a winner. You can also order online at Crate and Barrel.

Oprah's 20 Questions

In case you are a closet Oprah fanatic like me... ( I love Oprah and all things O but I don't watch the show because it's not on at a convenient time and I don't subscribe to the mag, cause... I just don't)(weird, I know...such are my quirks)
Anyhoo, Oprah has come up with the 20 questions you need to answer before getting married. What do you think? Have each of you broached these subjects with your hunnies? Any surprises?

Vendor Lookup

Like Miss Capitol Hill mentioned, the January edition of Washingtonian magazine features its annual Weddings feature. Most of the same content is offered online, with helpful articles and profiles of couples in the area. They revamped the online section this year and my favorite new feature is the vendor bank--you can look up vendors by category or location. The lists include the best resources as voted by their peers and clients. Take a look! I found some new florist listings I hadn't heard of previously.

Wonderful White

Looking through photos of weddings it always seemed to me like colorful bridal bouquets were the norm. Seemed like most brides had a punch of color that usually matched their bridesmaid dresses. My bouquet will be all white calla lilies, so I was thrilled to see a whole section on white flowers in the recent issue of InStyle Weddings. But on the same page it said "About 85 percent of brides ask for white bouquets." Really??? 85%? Wow...white and green are a lot more common then I thought, and you sure can't tell that by all the wedding magazines, blogs, pictures, etc. Here are a few of the beautiful bouquets for inspiration.

All floral designs from Mark Held

^ Tying bouquets with ribbon is the norm now, but I LOVE the organic, modern, and simplistic feel of the calla lilies tied with a thinner stem.


^Glamelia's use to be very popular in the 40's-50's and in many countries they are still synonymous with "bridal bouquet." Now they seem to be making a comeback and Katherine Heigl from Grey's Anatomy carried one in her recent wedding. If you are like me you are asking yourself "what the heck is a glamelia?" Basically it is individual petals or blooms (usually rose or gladiola petals) wired together to form one large blossom.



For more white bouquets check out this season's InStyle Weddings.

Venus Williams is Engaged

Tennis star Venus Williams is to marry her boyfriend Hank Kuehne.

The couple has been dating for almost a year and while details of the proposal are unknown, they are reportedly trying to keep their happy news out of the spotlight.

A source close to the star tells MediaTakeOut.com, "Venus is preparing for (the Australian Open) and she doesn't need the (media) distraction. But everyone is very happy, especially Venus."

courtesy of contactmusic.com

Copyright World Entertainment News Network

Bridesmaid Bargains from CK Bradley

The below Tulip Dress from CK Bradley is a steal for $75 (marked down from $320.00!). They'd make really great bridesmaid dresses for a beachy or summer wedding. They'd also be really cute as a rehearsal dress.




The below Charleston Dress isn't on sale at all :( And at $295.00 it's a pricey choice but so many brides have chocolate and pink as their colors I had to include it.


Finally, the Lola Dress below in "Blue Calligraphy" silk dupioni and black satin is gorgeous. The good news is it's on sale. The bad news is it's still $340! But hey it's marked down from $425.00.

If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy

Yes, I am the newest "mother" on the block in my family, however this is a blog where I'm (finally) not talking about myself! Instead, this is about my mother.

I absolutely love her dearly. I really do. We've had quite the life together that I never thought could yield the wonderful relationship that we've got now. But this wedding business is taking things to new levels that I really don't feel are necessary.

To be fair, she has waited my whole life (and I guess hers too) to be the "mother of the bride." (She's also been waiting to be the "mother of the girl having the baby" because I have two older brothers but that's a whole other posting for a whole other blog. She IS getting that too though.)

Anyway, my dad has always known how I feel about weddings and about how I envisioned my wedding to be - that being something VERY understated and otherwise untraditional. My mom, on the other hand, has visions of all things "commercial" and traditional wedding. Though she has said from the beginning that she supports everything and anything that I want, it's kind of just talk for her.

With the major downsizing of this wedding, a whole lot has been cut out of the planning. We're no longer having out-of-town gifts for the guests or a wedding party. We aren't having a "getaway" car or a rehearsal dinner (why? when you're not even having a bridal party) Now, to be fair, some reductions have been a result of energy and effort I don't have because I'm now pregnant (i.e. making a whole human being) but it's also a result of the fact that for as long as I can remember, I've not wanted to plan a wedding to begin with.

My mother has been a good sport about it though and recently I've gotten to the point where I'm willing to say "yes" to just about anything to get her off my back. And by just about anything I mean the following:

• Reception place - Our 1st pick CANCELED (the one I posted most recently about and I will not even discuss this whole debacle further because it only burns me up) but my mother was able to secure the second choice (her 1st choice) within a half hour later
• Invitations -I don't see the point because I would just as well do the "tasteless" thing like send an Evite as my wonderful dad said because how easy is that - nevermind the tasteless thing. But my mom insists that we do these even though there are less than 20 invitations that we have to send out and we already know who is coming because the date was deliberately picked to accommodate all of the schedules. And we're also sending the invitations from "Loveville" - a little town nearby my parents because my mom has loved that idea since hearing about it.
• Flower girl dresses - My two nieces (her granddaughters that she waited and waited so patiently for) were our flower girls and my sister-in-law was buying "any dress" (in my words) that she thought would be cool. Then they were just guests because we canceled the whole wedding party. Now they are back to being flower girls with Real Flower girl Dresses (from David's Bridal no less). My mother insisted that having them as the flower girls is just about the best thing of the wedding. I love them so much that I could hardly not agree.
• Guest Favors - I had this great idea to do a charitable donation for all of the guests. The operative word is Had. This is because mom wants to have something tangible and "wedding-y" to give people that will all serve as decorations for the table. From the beginning she's wanted to give people personalized chopsticks. I'm okay with doing chopsticks but I don't see the necessity of making them personalized. In any case, they are getting chopsticks (the decorative kind) and also a little thing filled with other things to eat (I will post a whole separate thing on this in coming weeks).
  
• Cake - Husband2be and I are not fans of cake unless it's Angel Food cake. When we were planning big wedding from before, we went back and forth between a wedding cake and a dessert bar and found that the kind of dessert bar we want to do is more than a wedding cake so we decided on the cake instead. After we scaled down we thought, "Who needs cake?" Apparently my mom. And everyone else too (well, according to her). Whatever. If she wants cake, she can have it. BUT(!) I'm going to be making it. I know how crazy this sounds but I'm taking time off to do wedding stuff before the wedding and all of my best girlfriends will be in town and we're just making a "cutting cake" and I'm buying a whole decorations kit online from Wendy Kromer. All I'm going to have to do is make sure that the cake part and then throw some icing on it. (Sure I'm sounding more like "The Crazy Pregnant Lady" by the second but I can live with that.) I see this particular detail as the makings of a lovely "memory" for me and my best girls and I'm actually pretty excited about it.

Those are the main things. The last one that didn't make the list is something that (according to husband2be and me) is just getting to be a little bit much. My dad forgot to contact the DJ he arranged and just received word that the guy is booked for the new date. My thought? Verbatim - "Who cares." However, my mother is all "We saw this 'cute little' Christian worship band at this coffee house near our house and we could get a few of the band members - how about that?" *cringes* For the record, I enjoy some good Christian music but I'm pretty selective and if my mother MUST. HAVE. this? I'm sorry. But this is just not something that I'm going to be so keen on. *shrugs* And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that it does not happen. ;)

Escort Cards

I love the classic look of simple white escort cards with black script all in a row, but I also enjoy the eye candy of a unique display for escort cards.

Old School Martha- The two below displays from past Martha Stewart weddings have been very popular and featured in a number of weddings I've seen on the net lately.





New School Martha - But why do something old when you can do something new? I really like the below display from this season's issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. I love the different colors of blue and how neat and clean it all looks. Course pretty calligraphy helps as well.




Not Martha At All- But why do Martha at all when you can do something totally different? I love the below display from this month's issue of InStyle Weddings. The rich red fabric and the damask print table cards are bold and elegant. Putting it in a frame would probably be expensive but I could totally see these lined on a wall gallery style.



My only thoughts on all of these is that they all look great in groups of 20 or so. But what if you have like 200 people or more at your wedding? Would it be overkill? Too cluttered? Too hard to find? Or just too much of a pain the a## to do yourself?

Or this is another idea...

Hello everyone, I am sorry for the lapse in writing, I just got back from Florida yesterday, after having the worst flight ever, including 1 cancelled flight, 1 delayed flight and 1 flight that ended in an emergency landing causing FI , Doggy and I to spend the night in a random airport...I am finally back in DC! I never realized how much I missed it!

Not being at work for 2 weeks has caused a pile of work taller than the Washington monument to accumulate on my desk, so I have to make this short and sweet :)

Talking about sweet my MOH sent me a picture of a wedding cake she saw featured on CNN and I just had to share with my fellow brides to be..this is one way to go...

^ This bride made her wedding cake an exact replica of herself! Although this is not the way I would go, the cake is a pretty good replica!

Here is the Link for the story, there are better pictures, but I was having trouble uploading them.

You Can have an Adult Disney Wedding

Walt Disney World might be the most popular spot to bring kids on vacation but starting this week there is one place in the resort that will not be open to children. The Victoria & Albert's restaurant in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the theme park's only restaurant with an AAA five-diamond rating, is banning children under 10. The decision came after surveys showed that diners were looking for a more adult restaurant experience. Of course Disney has 97 other full-service restaurants to choose from but this is the one with the highest prices and the most elegant atmosphere. Prices start at $125 a person.

(Courtesy of Luxist)

Are You Bride of The Year?

This little tidbit comes courtesy of What A Wedding, head on over there it's an interesting blog, you'll like it.

Your Chance to be Bride of the Year - VA Brides

Attention brides-to-be in Virginia! Here's your chance to be Bride of the Year and win a fabulous honeymoon to Aruba!

WHAT: Bride of the Year Luncheon

WHEN: Saturday, February 16, 2008

WHERE: At West Manor Bed and Breakfast in Forest, VA.

DETAILS: The luncheon begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. and the doors will open at 10:30 a.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Tickets are available for $17.50 per person.

There will be several different caterers providing a buffet-style luncheon with different entrees and appetizers for you to enjoy.

Every bride in attendance will have the opportunity to register for the Bride of the Year contest upon arriving at West Manor.

Four finalists will be randomly drawn from all the registrations.

These finalists will go through an on-stage interview, each telling how she met her fiancé, how they got engaged, and details about the wedding. Each finalist will be judged on poise, personality, and her story and the Bride of the Year will be named by the end of the Luncheon.

The Bride of the Year wins the opportunity to tell her story in the 2008-09 Bridal Guide. She also receives a prize package that includes a honeymoon to Aruba.

There will also be many door prizes given away to brides and guests as well as tons of information that will be available to help you plan your bid day!

Call 434-237-9083 for more details...and to purchase tickets!

Check out VA Brides over at http://www.vabridal.com/HOME/tabid/36/Default.aspx.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com

Your Vows

This was hilarious. I hold out hope that there are still good natured priests and ministers out there that will couples to exchange vow like this:
[Offic.]
"Groom"...
Will you answer me right now
These questions, as your wedding vow?

[Groom]
Yes, I will answer right now
Your questions as my wedding vow.

[Offic.]
Will you take her as your wife?
Will you love her all your life?

[Groom]
Yes, I take her as my wife,
Yes, I'll love her all my life.

[Offic.]
Will you have, and also hold
Just as you have at this time told?

[Groom]
Yes, I will have, and I will hold,
Just as I have at this time told,
Yes, I will love her all my life
As I now take her as my wife.

[Offic.]
Will you love through good and bad?
Whether you're happy or sad?

[Groom]
Yes, I'll love through good and bad,
Whether we're happy or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold
Just as I have already told,
Yes, I will love her all my life,
Yes, I will take her as my wife!

[Offic.]
Will you love her if you're rich?
Or if you're poor, and in a ditch?

[Groom]
Yes, I'll love her if we're rich,
And I will love her in a ditch,
I'll love her through good times and bad,
Whether we are happy or sad,
Yes, I will have, and I will hold
(I could have sworn this has been told!)
I promise to love all my life
This woman, as my lawful wife!

[Offic.]
Will you love her when you're fit,
And also when you're feeling sick?

[Groom]
Yes, I'll love her when we're fit,
And when we're hurt, and when we're sick,
And I will love her when we're rich
And I will love her in a ditch
And I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
And I will have, and I will hold
Ten years from now a thousandfold,
Yes, I will love for my whole life
This lovely woman as my wife!

[Offic.]
Will you love with all your heart?
Will you love till death you part?

[Groom]
Yes, I'll love with all my heart
From now until death do us part,
And I will love her when we're rich,
And when we're broke and in a ditch,
And when we're fit, and when we're sick,
(Oh, CAN'T we get this finished quick?)
And I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
And I will have, and I will hold,
And if I might now be so bold,
I'll love her my entire life,
Yes, I WILL take her as my wife!

[Offic.]
"Bride"...
Will you answer me right now
These questions, as your wedding vow?

[Bride]
Yes, I will answer right now
Your questions as my wedding vow.

[Offic]
Will you take him as your man?
Will you love him best you can?

[Bride]
Yes, I take him as my man.
Yes, l will love him best I can.

[Offic.]
Will you have, and also hold
Just as you have at this time told?

[Bride]
Yes, I will have, and I will hold,
Just as I have at this time told,
Yes, I take him as my man.
Yes, l will love him best I can.

[Offic.]
Will you love through good and bad?
Whether you're happy or sad?

[Bride]
Yes, I'll love through good and bad,
Whether we're happy or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold
Just as I have already told,
Yes, I take him as my man.
Yes, l will love him best I can.

[Offic.]
Will you love him if you're rich?
Or if you're poor, and in a ditch?

[Bride]
Yes, I'll love him if we're rich,
And I will love him in a ditch,
I'll love him through good times and bad,
Whether we are happy or sad,
Yes, I will have, and I will hold
(I could have sworn this has been told!)
I promise to love as best I can,
my husband, my friend, this handsome man!

[Offic.]
Will you love him in the smog,
will you love him on your blog?

[Bride]
In clear weather and in the smog,
when we’re online and on our blogs,
I will love him through thick and thin,
no matter what state we’re in,
Through good and bad,
when glad or sad,
I will have, and I will hold
Ten years from now a thousandfold,
Yes, I will love this man of mine,
For now and forever till the end of time!

[Offic.]
Then if you’ll take him as your man,
and if you’ll love him best you can,
And if you'll take her as your wife,
And if you'll love her all your life,
And if you both will have and hold,
From now until the stars grow cold,
And if you'll love through good and bad,
And whether you're happy or sad,
And love in sickness, and in health,
And when you're poor, and when in wealth,
And if you'll love with all your heart,
From now until death do you part,
Yes, if you'll love her through and through,
Please answer with these words: I do.

[Couple]
I DO!

Gagas.com , the children’s wedding formalwear resource, offers high quality flower girl dresses and ringbearer tuxes for rental, at huge savings off the retail prices. All tuxedos and the most popular flower girl dresses rent for an entire three weeks for prices ranging from $16.99 to $19.99. Not each week but for all three weeks! Gaga’s includes free shipping both ways, so there are no hidden charges or surprises.

I don't want to be Rapunzel anymore!!!

Did you know that pregnancy (combined with the prenatal vitamins that you have to take) can make your hair GORGEOUS and THICK and LONG??? A month ago my hair was limp and dull but recently it's become so much more of what I've been told it would be.

Normally someone might be happy about this but I've about had it with my hair! Now is the time of year when I usually hack it all off (been doing this since college into something that looks like what Katie Holmes is doing) and right now my hair is halfway down my back and it's just about driving me crazy. I pretty much am only wearing it in a ponytail.

I know. An updo for the veil and pearl comb that I'm wearing will be so much easier and maybe even prettier when my hair is long and full and lush. But like the title of this blog says, this long hair is getting to be a little too much of a good thing.

Today I happened to find a lovely picture online of Lucy Liu on some entertainment website that I forget the name of. ET online? Whatever. It doesn't matter. I took a screenshot of it and I want to get my haircut in the way she has it SOOOOOOO BADLY!!!

I have a strapless dress and a elbow length veil and a blusher and a pearl comb that would sit right where the veil sits at the top of my head. Y'think that I could pull it off with this haircut?

I've had my hair cut like this before and it's so classic and pretty. It COULD work for a wedding couldn't it? I mean, it would look really pretty right??

*sigh*

I'm trying to get you to be on my side about this. Obviously.

But seriously, please give me your honest opinion. Because I could just as well get my hair hacked the very next day afterwards. ;-p

Hitched Sample Sale

This is the week. Hitched is celebrating their second year anniversary with a huge sample sale on gowns, veils, shoes and jewelry. Markdowns from 30%-50% will be available for the month of January. Everything kicks off on Thursday, January 10th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

D.C. Hair and Makeup Spreadsheet Cheat Sheet

After reading about Miss Bowie's search for hair/makeup, I thought I'd upload the below spreadsheet. It's a spreadsheet compiled by knottie twobuckchuck that lists some of the major hair/makeup providers in the D.C. area and their costs for services. It's about a month old and I can't promise all the prices are accurate for the new year but at least it gives you an idea of costs and it might introduce you to some talent you hadn't heard of before.

Hair%20and%20Makeup%20Spreadsheet.xls

Make sure you scroll all the way to the right of the spreadsheet so you can see contact information and other important details. The first section is hair only, the second is makeup only, and the third is both hair and makeup.

New J Crew Spring Bridesmaid Dresses

J Crew's Spring line of bridesmaid dresses is now on their site. It may be their Spring line but they are definitely channeling summer with colors like orange peel, sour lemon, bright berry, papaya, fresh aloe, and blue oasis. I can already see myself sitting beneath a palm tree drinking pina coladas. My favorites?
The black dress in the middle, the bright berry dress (3rd row far left), and I love the color of blue oasis (3rd row far right).

8-8-08 It's Already Begun

8-8-08

This year's Olympics in Beijing will tout the Gucci leather panda which sells for $1,050. The bear is part of the Gucci 8-8-2008 Limited Edition designed by Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. The collection of eight pieces, of course, includes the new $1,415 I-Gucci watch, the company's first digital watch, which is already on their website. Other special Gucci Limited Edition items include a $3,420 bicycle, a $3,150 Mahjong set covered in red La Pelle Guccissima leather, a pair of $660 men's and women's sports shoes, a $445 sterling silver and enamel necklace inspired by military tags, and two pieces of luggage in La Pelle Guccissima, a leather duffle for $2,795 and a $995 leather messenger bag.

Are you impressed?

Another Wedding Freebie

Man, you guys are really lucking out, usually it's the new startups that give away services to build portfolios, but it seems 2008 is the year for the heavy hitters to pull out all the stops.

Karenscape Photographers is thrilled to announce the official launch of the "How I Found The One" Contest. We'll be giving away a FREE complete wedding photography package every four months in 2008. Karen will personally shoot all three contest winner's weddings, a value of $9700 per wedding, for FREE.

But wait I love the catch, she wants to know how YOU found "The One." How sweet is that?
For full contest entry details and instructions, please visit www.karenscape.com and click on the "Win a Free Wedding" link

HUGE Contest Freebie

Quick fast and in a hurry head on over to our friends at Bridal Bar and read about this fantabulous contest in which Robert Evans, photographer extraordinaire (He did Tom Kat's wedding and even if you don't like them you have to admit, that 's a pretty big deal.) is looking for a wedding to cover that will ultimately be used in the marketing of his firm. Before you turn up your pretty little noses, understand that whatever photographer you use, they maintain co-ownership of your images and can use them for promotional purposes anyway.

He bills out at $10,000 and is giving away a wedding photography package. If your wedding is between now and March 15 get in on this and let us know if you win!!!!

Love is a wonderful thing

About 8-9 years ago when my mom was still learning how to use email, she got this one email that talked about children and what they thought love meant. She never forwarded it to me - because she still learning how to email - but she did print it off for me and send it via regular mail. I lost the print off but recently discovered it in it's entirety online. Thought you all might enjoy it. Kids sure do say the darnedest things!

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:


'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'
Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'
Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.'
Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8

Even to this day I can read it and still feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :)

Roses are "blush," roses are "bashful"

Tonight I am completing the order for my flowers!!! I cannot believe that this is actually happening because this is a major accomplishment in my book.


In the words of infamous Steel Magnolias, my colors are Blush and Bashful - or Pink and Pink. In my case though, the one shade of pink IS very much deeper than the other as pictured below (with quantities indicated for what we got):

We are ordering from ProFlowersWeddings.com and ordinarily I wouldn't even think of ordering my flowers online (unseen) for the wedding but I am an extremely loyal customer of Pro Flowers and I can't imagine that they weddings division would fall short of the expectations that they have for their regular flower service.

I am getting the Royal Roses in Light Pink and Dark Pink in the "Forever Yours" collection that includes the following (as I have opted):

Any combination of the following totaling 6
1 Maid of Honor / Bridesmaid's Bouquet
5 Centerpieces

Any combination of the following totaling 2
2 Flower Girl Aisle Petal Bouquet
(10 full size roses)

Any combination of the following totaling 10
5 Boutonnieres
5 Pin-on Corsages

The total cost with shipping via Fed-Ex will be $545 including a $200 deposit that will be applied to the total cost due within the next two weeks. I haven't done enough pricing of flowers to know if this is a good deal or not but it seems pretty reasonable to me and I'm more than happy with it. I would have liked to be able to substitute some things that I don't need for others that I do - like taking away the centerpieces and doing more boutonnieres and corsages but I think it's going to work out just fine with what I have.

You might notice though that there is no bridal bouquet in the package - this is because I'm using the standard maid of honor/bridesmaid bouquet instead of the bridal because it's smaller and from my experience as a wedding photographer, bridal bouquets can be heavy and cumbersome. Also, the fact that I'm not having any other attendants will not make it so obvious that I have 18 roses in my bouquet vs. the standard 25 that they do for bridal bouquets. To me the money that was saved in doing this was well worth it! Also, the groom's boutonniere will be dark pink instead of the light pink to set him apart from the two ring bearers.

I'll be paying for the package after work when I get home!!! So exciting!!! And, if you can believe it, the invitations are actually coming together too!!!

Registering Started!

Over the holiday break fiance and I finally started the registration process. We'd been putting it off because it seemed so daunting. Like most couples we'd probably rather just have money but that's not an appropriate gift for everyone (I know I like to give an actual gift and not just cash).

One of the top things on my list was china, crystal, and nice flatware. I know, I know, most brides aren't registering for this stuff anymore b/c they know they won't use it or will only use it occasionally. Fiance and I are the opposite. Our jobs often require us to entertain at home in a formal fashion and if we tried to buy a set of 12 on our own it would be pretty pricey. No better time then a wedding to ask for china. Besides, we already have casual everyday dining ware and a slightly nicer set as well.

On the advice of a bride on the D.C. Knot board I went to the Macy's Home Store at Montgomery Mall (right off 495). This is a one floor Macys completely devoted to homeware and furniture. I figured this Macys would have the most selection. Really, once you strip away the furniture section I'd say it's comparable in size to most Macys home sections. Take away the "martha stewart" section and it's even smaller. On this trip we were just browsing to see what appealed to us. We also went to the Bloomingdales in Friendship Heights because they have a much larger china selection just to make sure we were seeing all that was out there.

At both stores we ended up liking the below place setting the most. It is called Library Lane and it is a design by Kate Spade for Lenox. It's fine bone china with an inner and outer platinum band. We liked the simplicity of it and the fact that it's neutral enough to be dressed up in different styles. I also like that the pattern won't be outdated in 10 or 20 yrs. We also chose the corresponding flatware. We weren't crazy on the matching crystal so we chose a coordinating set called Sterling from Wedgewood. So did we end up registering at Macys or at Bloomingdales? Well, neither.

Turns out Bed Bath and Beyond has the same china, crystal, and flatware patterns at their online store as Macys and Bloomingdales. They also carry top brand pots/pans like All Clad and the same small kitchen appliance brands (like Krups) as the department stores, Crate and Barrel and Williams and Sonoma.

I went with Bed Bath and Beyond for a number of reasons 1) I wanted as few stores as possible. Macys and Bloomies had some things but they were missing a lot of the other kitchen gadgets we were looking for. I didn't want to register at Macys for one thing and have to register somewhere else for corn holders. 2) Bed Bath and Beyond is everywhere. Neither Macys nor Bloomingdales is in my home state and as much as I like shopping online some people just will not do it. 3) I have heard universally good reviews about Bed Bath and Beyond on my Knot board and their return/exchange program. Whereas I've heard that Macys can be a hassle with returns sometimes and stores like Crate and Barrel are so seasonal that a lot of times things you like get sold out before your wedding. 5) Bed Bath and Beyond is always sending out those 20% off coupons. I'm all for people getting discounts on our gifts.

My only problem now is I haven't found linens at any of the stores we've visited that I've liked. So we my end up registering at a second home type store anyway. Bummer.

It's 5 o'clock somewhere...

How cool is this? Wild Hibiscus is an Australian company that just launched in the US. Place one of these organic wild hibiscus flowers in a glass, pour champagne over it and watch it slowly open up as the bubbles do their magic! This is certainly an option for a visually stunning signature cocktail.




The edible flowers are preserved in a syrup of cane sugar and water, with a "delicious raspberry and rhubarb flavor." There are several recipes on the site for additional cocktails:


Wild Hibiscus Daiquiri


Wild Hibiscus Mojito

The flowers are sold in jars of 11 ($11) or 50 ($35) and a 5% discount is offered for orders of $85 or more. They are also available at select Dean and Deluca locations in NYC. I just ordered a jar to try out, so I'll let you all know how it goes! It just fit in too well with my red color scheme :D

Find me between the rock and a hard place

Where am I? I am just a little over a month from my wedding date. *SIGH* This wouldn't be such a problem except for the fact that I Still have not sent out wedding invitations.

Now, the whole idea of doing wedding invitations seems a little pointless anyway since the guest list is so small and all of our family and friends are confirmed to come anyway but still - my mother wanted to do them.

Originally I was getting handmade invitations done from a lovely graphic designer in NYC who I found via ebay. She runs a site called ILoveThisCard.com. I can hardly blame her for the fact that I don't have the invitations at this point. It's my fault. But to be fair, I have been in and out of the doctor's at least once a week and also in the hospital itself for a couple of days. Coordinating logistics for a wedding just end up low on the priority list when all of the stuff like that happens, see?

But I still would like to fulfill the commitment that I originally set out on to do invitations. Enter the route of DIY (Do-it-yourself).

There are a number of reasonable DIY kits that I've seen in the local craft super stores (AC Moore and Michael's) and I found some online as well. I could certainly do a little more than just print them from my home computer and send them off and go the way of mounting and embellishing them since I actually have only 20 invitations to do but I don't know. I just don't know. When I think of how easy it will be to just zip them through the printer, *shrug* anything that makes life easier that day is just that much more of a winner for me these days!

I am a little sad that we will likely not be able to use our original designs for invitations but I think something like this could be just as nice. Also, the cherry blossoms would work for the Asian theme and the red and pink color scheme would work well for the fact that Valentine's is just around the corner from our wedding day!

It would be about $125 without response cards but honestly? Do we really even need response cards??? If I really think an RSVP is necessary, I could always just include an extra "info" card with our wedding website info and have people RSVP online - and it's not like we don't already know who is coming anyway!

What to do, what to do? I'm seriously coming in under the gun here. And let's not even get into the fact that I also am having the hardest time trying to find someone to do hair and make-up!

*argh*

Emily Post Book Signing

Thanks to Mrs. Raspberry of the Bees
Anna Post is signing her new book Emily Post’s Wedding Parties on January 12th. if you have never been over to Harriet Kassman ( in Mazza Gallery, Chevy Chase) I would recommend heading over there. It is high end, but i love the service and have had terrific success with beautiful Mother of the Bride dresses, that don't look old ladyish.

And Hitched Wedding Salon is having a sample sale on bridal gowns, veils, shoes and jewelry marked down 30%-50% on Thursday, January 10th from 5-8pm.

Celeb Doings in the World of Matrimony

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds Marry

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds were married on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia in front of 25 friends and family, their reps tell PEOPLE.

In a sunset ceremony on the beach Tuesday, Edmonds walked barefoot down the aisle to Gladys Knight's "Makings of You." The bride wore a custom-designed form-fitting dress by stylist and designer Sugia Nazel and Jill Baracci, designer and owner of Baracci boutique. Murphy wore a cream suit and vest with an off-white handkerchief.

Edmonds, 40, gave her bridesmaids gold and diamond earrings from XIV Karats in Beverly Hills, and Murphy, 46, gave his groomsmen D.Atlantis watches.

The wedding was designed by event designer Colin Cowie, who created a gazebo on the beach made out of 6,000 shells for the ceremony. After the ceremony, guests celebrated at a private dinner and after-party, where DJ Darrin Ebron from Los Angeles kept the guests dancing.

The wedding cake was by Sam Godfrey of Perfect Endings in Napa, CA, and featured four layers in whites and cream with handmade sugar cymbidium and dendrobium orchids.

Fergie and Josh Duhamel Engaged

They are known to bring good luck in the new year, but one Black-Eyed Pea got lucky early. After 3 years of dating, Fergie and Josh Duhamel are engaged, his rep confirms to PEOPLE.

Jessica Alba Engaged!

Mom-to-be Jessica Alba was spotted over the Christmas holiday with a rock on her left ring finger – and the rumors are true: She and boyfriend Cash Warren are engaged, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

Without a Trace Star Roselyn Sanchez Gets Engaged

Without a Trace star Roselyn Sanchez and actor Eric Winter were engaged while on vacation in the Caribbean, her rep confirms.

Sanchez, 34, and Winter, 31, who have been dating for two years, have not yet set a date and location for their wedding, her rep told PEOPLE on Tuesday.The Puerto Rican-born Sanchez and Winter got engaged on the resort island of Vieques, east of mainland Puerto Rico.

Greg Norman and Chris Evert Are Engaged

Sports legends Chris Evert and Greg Norman are engaged, they told the press at a golf tournament in South Africa on Friday.

The couple got engaged last Sunday while traveling to South Africa from the U.S., Evert, 52, revealed to reporters while announcing a new tennis center she is building, according to Reuters

Jimmy Fallon Marries Producer Girlfriend Former Saturday Night Live regular Jimmy Fallon and girlfriend Nancy Juvonen, a Hollywood producer who worked on Fallon's 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch, were married Saturday on Necker Island in the Caribbean, a publicist announced.

Katherine Heigl Weds Josh Kelley

With a light snow falling outside, Katherine Heigl exchanged vows with musician Josh Kelley in scenic Park City, Utah. The private reception was witnessed by Grey's Anatomy costars T.R. Knight – who told PEOPLE it was "incredible and beautiful" – and Sandra Oh, as well as Private Practice star Kate Walsh and new husband Alex Young.

Scott Baio Marries Longtime Girlfriend Scott Baio is 46... and married. The former Happy Days star and legendary bachelor finally tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Renee Sloan in a rooftop ceremony at a luxury high-rise Saturday in Los Angeles.

flower recon

I've started my florist search now about nine months out--I'm anxious to get another 'big' thing crossed off of the list. I've compiled a list of questions, ideas and requirements to focus my conversations with the different flower mavens in the area, but what I really need are visuals! I have a list of flowers in my color scheme (red) and in season (fall) so I searched for real-life pictures in my fav resource, flickr! There are pictures of anything and everything in flickr!!!! There are several groups that may be of use to you. Try these tags:

red flowers (or white flowers, pink flowers, etc)
wedding bouquet
dahlia (or rose, orchid, any other type of flower, etc)
boutonniere
wedding centerpiece

A lot of flickr users tack on random tags, so it's always helpful to search for two or three tags to narrow down the results (ie: rose + flower, wedding + red, so on and so forth). This is a great resource to compile any "look books" to help convey your vision. But always remember, they are only a starting point for assembling your own unique event!

Silly Perhaps.... But Cool

Sad but true. I have a "thing" about tissues. i hate the floral boxes and trying to match them to the room and all. When i am sick i carry a tissue box around with me and am then bugged when the blue box ends up in the brown room.... (I know.....)

I saw this tissue ring and fell in love. What does this have to do with weddings? Nothing... I just loved it. You empty the tissues from the box and lay the ring over them, pull one through and you are on your way. $20 it's worth going on a registry.

Again from Luxist:

Add to Your Registry a la Martha

Hot Off the Press from Luxist:

After years of selling her lines with Kmart, Martha Stewart has made the move up the ladder a bit to Macy's. Her latest line is a collaboration with Wedgwood that will only be sold at Macy's. The line, which just became available in stores, features 10 fine bone china patterns, six crystal stemware patterns, and six stainless steel flatware patterns. The pieces are inspired by some of Martha's favorite pieces of china. Each china pattern is available in five -piece place settings, ranging in price from $99-$159. The six stemware patterns range from $30 to $37 per stem and the flatware costs from $45 to $60 for a 5-piece place setting.