Bubbles

I finally finished the bubble baskets! I started these forever ago, when we had the old house but now they are done and have already been shipped back to Pennsylvania. I only put a ribbon on a couple of bubbles to see how they would look, they turned out pretty good. The rest I just will have Jerry's mom do, I didn't want the bows to look funny after being shipped and tossed around.

This is what the baskets look like. I just ordered heart charms and then picked up some charms from Michaels that said things like 'faith', 'hope', etc. on them and strung them on there alternatingly. I even put bows on some of the charms, not all though because I didn't want it to look too crowded, just enough.

Cake Topper

Now that I've received my income taxes back I feel like I'm in full wedding planning mode. I have ordered tons of things and can't wait for them all to get here. Two things I ordered recently and received were cake toppers. I coudn't decide between the two so I just had to order both. Now that they're here I still dont know. These are my choices.



I like both of them for different reasons. The first one I love because they look more like us-hair color wise, ha and I love the dress the woman has on. Jerry thinks they slightly look like they're chinese though which is the bad thing.

This second one I like because she's pinching his butt and thats sooo us. BUT I feel like they look sort of distorted since they're so tall and skinny.

We'll probably end up going with the first one. I can't wait to see how it looks on the cake!

Lots and Lots of Lights

22 boxes to be exact. Just enough to go around the perimiter of the 45x100 foot pavillion, thats 290 feet of lights. Crazy! They were originally $9.99 per box but they were half off right after the holidays..hell yeah!

I still need a couple strands to put under the linens around the cake table and I also have to decide if I'm going to have lights for the head table set up. Better jump on it because I dont know where I'm going to get them from if I wait much longer!

I have a monogram!

Actually I have two! I was going to make my own, but my Microsoft Publisher Trial expired at the end of September, so I had to find someone to make one for me.

Both of these were made by Megan who has her own etsy shop 'Megastar Designs'. The second one I probably wont use at all, but I liked how it matched my STD's and stuff. I like the first one, but I still don't know yet. We'll see...ha





Don't mind the white boxes behind them, obviously when used that won't be there.

Not Impressed

So the toasting flutes and cake serving set I ordered came in. I'm sending both of them back. The flutes look exactly like the candle holder we already bought which is exactly what I wanted, but they looked cheap. It looked like you could just chip the silver paint right off, it was weird. The cake serving set was actually really pretty but not what I was looking for. After looking at the other two choices I liked I'm not sure if I'm going to like them anymore so I need to start looking around for different ones. This sucks, I wanted to get something done.

School started two weeks ago. I actually declared my major, Computer Science, and my minor, Business. That was some very exciting business-I can actually picture my career now! Besides school I've been working and having to cart Jerry's butt around since he can't drive now. We're selling our house so we can get one closer to CSU so he can bike ride :) That means I wont have to get up at 6:30am anymore to take him to work and stuff!

Tonight I'm going out with one of my bridesmaids, Emily. This is the first time we're hanging out since last semester so I'm very excited! I hope everyone else has a good night too!

Toasting Flutes and Cake Serving Set

I ordered a set of toasting flutes and a cake serving set off theknot this morning. I had picked out two of each that I liked but decided to go with the ones I wasn't sure about first..I figure if I get them and I dont like them I can return them for the other ones which I know I'll like.

These are the ones I ordered. I can't really tell how they'll look from the pictures so we'll just have to see. They're from the Lenox Opal Innocence collection which is why I got them, I want them to match the unity candle we ordered from this collection.

Disposable Camera-Check!

So I talked to my FMIL today and she said to pick out which cameras I want then to let her know and she'll order them! I just emailed her the link with the two cameras I liked. The first one is called Fairytale Fantasy and the other is just Hearts and Doves. I'd just post pictures myself, but of course they're website blocks you from copying them. Figures, ha. I'm excited!

Flower List

So I've decided to make a list of all the flower arrangements I will be needing. I plan on calling florists in the next couple of months so I want to be ready.

Attendents Flowers
Brides Bouquet
Tossing Bouquet
Maid of Honor/Bridesmaids Bouquets (3 or 4)
-Shawna
-Emily
-Donna
-Undecided
Grooms Boutonniere
Groomsmen Boutonnieres (3 or 4)
-Steve
-Gage
-Nick
-Undecided
Ushers/Readers Corsages/Bouttonieres (?)
-I think I'll have three ushers, although its undecided at this time for sure how many and who they will be. As for readers, I might not even have any, thats undecided as well.
-Pastor P.J.
Moms Corsages (2)
-Kim
-Kim
Grandmothers Corsages (5)
-Marietta
-Judy
-Janet
-Donnna
-Marcia-
Fathers Boutonnieres (1)
-Roger
Step Fathers Boutonnieres (2)
-Rich
-Steve
Grandfathers Boutonnieres (4)
-Larry
-Tom
-Richard
-Jerry

Ceremony Flowers
Petals lining the aisle
Petals for flower girl basket
Arrangements for side of chairs down aisle
Guest Book Table

Reception Flowers
Arrangements for Wish Bowl Table
Arrangements for Gift/Card Table
Arrangements for Buffet Tables
Arrangements for Cake Table
Head Table Arrangements
Centerpieces for all tables
Arrangements to hang off tulle on posts of pavillion

I think thats it for now, but I'll be adding if I think of more.

Lists!

I've decided to make a list of everything I need to buy/do for the wedding..then Im hopefully going to make a timeline of when it should all be completed by. I got ideas to do this from knottie KareBear0408 she seams to be organized and its working for her so hopefully if I can get dates down for everything, it will all work out better for me to! I have soo many ideas..but dont know where to start! ha

Ceremony
Unity Candle Holder
Hurrican Shade for large candle
Monogram on Candle
Aisle Runner
Rent White Chairs for seating
Stand for Lemonade/Limeade
Canisters for the Lemonade/Limeade
Monogrammed Water Bottles
Guest Book
Guest Book Pen
Some sort of stand to put it on
Programs
Flower girl basket and Petals
Ring bear pillow
Bubbles with ribbon
Birdseed in tulle
Baskets-2-one to hold each the bubbles and the birdseed

Reception
Tulle to hang from posts
White stringing lights
Table Numbers-Picture Frames and Pictures
Chair Signs
Love Knot Straws
Cake Candles for cake table
Monogram Letters for doors and head table
Monogram Napkins
Cake Serving Set
Toasting Flutes
Bridal Party Flutes
Engraving of cake set and flutes
Cake Topper
Cake Stand
Favors-Lotto Tickets and Envelopes/Stickers for each
Card Box
Rent china-plates, flatware, and glasses
Bathroom Baskets
Wish Bowl
Table arrangements (centerpiences/flowers/colors)
Picture Frames-2 for bathroom basket signs, 1 for wish bowl saying, 2-3? for main course items on menue
Flip Flops for Bridal Party with special note
Flip Flops for guests
Basket for flip flops for guests
Sparklers
Matches
Something to hold sparklers and matches

Other
Invitations
Save the Dates
Flowers

Attire
Grooms Tux
Grooms Shoes, Socks, Cuff Links
Groommen Tuxes
Brides Dress
Brides Shoes, Veil and Tiara
Brides Jewelry
Brides Hair/Make Up
Brides pedicure and manicure
Brides Tanning
Garter
Throwing Garter
Sexy Lingerie
Find Bridesmaids Dresses
Bridesmaids Hair
Bridesmaids Pedicure/Manicure (maybe)
Bridesmaids can choose their own shoes and jewelry so no need to worry about that!
Flower Girl and Ring Bear Outfits


I think thats it..now I just need to sit down and make a plan and figure out when I should start working on things or buying them..hmm..:)

Cake Serving Set

After searching on the internet FOREVER to find the matching cake serving set I think I've found it!

This one is the one I first found with the white handles. Then I found regular metal ones with the little vines!





After I go home and get our internet working again I'll show them to Jer and see what he thinks. Hopefully he'll like them and then we can get them ordered soon!

Stick with the pattern?

I've been looking for toasting flutes and a cake serving set lately though. I think since we bought our unity candle holder in the lenox jubilee opal innocence, that I should stick with the same pattern for the toasting flutes and cake serving set. I've tried finding it and I think I've found some flutes that match the candle holder but no luck on the cake set yet. I've found two flute sets that are saying their from the opal collection, but I'm not sure which one I like better, the one on the bottom looks more like the actual candle holder I think. When I go to find the serving sets though, the handles are all in a white opal color, they dont have the vines and stuff on them...hmmm?

DIY Cardbox

Wednesday night we made our cardbox that will hold all the cards at the wedding. Its everything I wanted it to be and MORE :) We had a really good time making it too! We got all our supplies together and our Margaritas then went to town. It took about an hour or so but just because the actual top was a little tricky and I had to do it twice :( It was all trial and error though. We had a basic idea of what we were doing from a couple other websites including the blog Road to the Aisle but really we didn't follow her measurements. We just used some L-Brackets and attatched all the frames together then just put a bottom and a top on it and bam it was done! Its so pretty-The frames are white and the top is a yellow and white plaid design! It was actually the first thing for the wedding we've done together! I went home by myself and met all the vendors in March that we're booking so he hasn't really done anything so this was very nice to do it together! I actually think he's more into the idea of the wedding now that he's done something for it!


Supplies/Directions:
4 Picture Frames-I used 8x10 frames but you can do whatever you want. Believe me 8x10 was big enough!
L-Brackets-I used 16 brackets total-4 packets of 4
Screws-for the L brackets-I used #8 so they wouldn't go through the holes in the brackets and 1/2" deep ones so they didn't go through the frames
Foam Board
Pretty Fabric
Batting
Drill
Screwdriver
Stapler

Ruler
Duck Tape

First we attatched all four frames together with L Brackets-We didn't really measure where we put them, we just attatched them (two on each side of the frame) then just lined the frames up and attatched it to the other frame wherever it lined up at right! I left the glass in for this step and I think it would've been easier if the glass would've been removed but its up to you. We had to use a screwdriver instead of a drill to attatch the last frame since the drill wouldn't fit in the box.

After we had the four sides together we added four L brackets to the bottom half of the frames to make a shelf support for the foam board to sit on. For the foam board I just took a ruler and measured the space between the frames-then just cut the board to that size and dropped it in!

These two pictures are looking into the box at the bottom. The one without the foam board and the other with.

After the bottom was in we duck taped it to the L brackets just for a little extra support.

After we put the bottom on it was time for the top. I felt like the top was the hardest part. I first cut the top the same size as the bottom with an exacto knife, which was fine. But I needed the top to be a little smaller because with the batting and fabric it wasn't going to fit. The hard part was trimming the foam board, I tried to use the knife but that didn't work so I switched to scissors, which were a pain in the ass. They ended up working but it took forever to just trim it down a little to what I needed it to be.

We attatched four L brackets-one to each from to make a shelf for the top to sit on as well. Just like we did for the bottom but with them upside down. All in all I think it turned out pretty well! I plan on re-doing the top though..Its too wrinkly for my tastes so I want to try and smooth it out! Heres the finished product though!

Day Three!

So I've been on my WW diet for three days now!~ Its a little hard but I feel really motivated to stick with it because its actually kind of easy to do! I get to eat whatever I want, and everything is worth points, and I just get so many points a day. Today I went over my points by a couple, but I was under my points the two previous days so I think it kind of weighed itself out. Plus you get an extra 35 points a week that your allowed to use if you need to, because they don't let you have very many points, I'm allowed to have 23 a day, so technically I'm still in my point range! I've been drinking TONS of water though..I hate water :( Jerry and I also took our babies (buddy a lab, and mesa a corgi) on a farely long bikeride tonight to a watering hole to let them go swimming. That was about the most excercise I've had in awhile! We have a bowflex home gym..but of course I never use it, I think I might start. I just can't wait to watch all this weight fall off. I started out at 155 pounds..We'll see next Tuesday when I weigh in how much I've lost!

My unity candle holders also came into today and I decided to go with the one from the knot. I also was able to sell the one I originally bought off ebay to another knottie so that wasn't a loss of money thank god! The one from ebay just seamed sort of cheap. The stand and stuff was nice but the actual part that held the main candle was like silver painted plastic. The one from the knot is a beautiful opal color and its definitely 'the one'.

Last night Jerry and I went shopping as well. We tried to find something to wear for our engagement photos but with no luck we came home with just some clothes for summer. We did buy the stuff to make the card holder though! We were out and I realized I forgot my coupon to Michaels for 25% off..so we drove ALL the way home..okay its only like five miles but still! ha Then when we got to michaels, we realized almost everything we wanted was on sale anyways so the coupon was no good! The frames, originally $10 a piece were 40% off!! What a steal! The foam board and batting were only like $2 a piece so that wasn't even worth waisting the coupon on! I still need to get some pretty fabric, but I kind of wanted to see the box all made before I decide and we still need a lazy susan...but I didn't feel like going to Walmart.

Weight Watchers

So I signed up for weight watchers today! After a discussion on the knot the other day with all the other July 09 knotties and how some have tried weight watchers and it worked I was thinking about trying it out. Then I woke up this morning and read knottie heatherkj's blog, and what do you know, it was about how she had just re-joined WW yesterday. Crazy. I took it as a sign and started my three month membership. I'm allowed to have 23 points a day which I dont think will be too bad. I was able to stick with it today just fine, although it was a little hard adding items to the recipe page to figure out how many points my casserole I made tonight was. We'll see how it goes though.

UPS also showed up at the door around 6:30 and what do you know, it was the opal unity candle holder from the knot, they didn't even send me a notice they had shipped it yet so I def. wasn't expecting that. But it is soooo beautiful, even more beautiful then in the pictures. Its a really pretty opal color and it just shines and aww.. :) I should have the other one I ordered off of ebay tomorrow. I'm excited!

OFFICIALLY booked

Its final! I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders and that this wedding actually starting to happen! I sent in a check last Thursday to our vendor for our ceremony/reception site for $500 which was the deposit to rent the place for the day. I have to mail one more check in on June 1st for $300 and its paid for! I also mailed my poppa bear the contract for our photographer and he said he would take that to her with the $500 deposit on Thursday! There are two major things out of the way! I also booked our dj about a week or so ago. He only wanted a deposit of $125. There are three major people I have put my deposits down for! The only thing I really need now is a florist and a baker, but I don't plan on getting those booked till around December or so.

I also found a photographer around here that will be doing our engagement photos for us. We're getting them done on June 22nd (I'm pretty sure thats the day). I don't know if I'm too excited for this lady but she was the cheapest-$150. I am excited to get them done though. Then I can start on the save-the-dates. I also have to wait till knottie heatherkj has her own wedding so she can get her FI to start on our wedding website so I can put them on the save-the-dates as well. I've picked out the paper for them and I think I'm going to order it on Friday-payday-YAY! Then I can start designing those on the computer and get them started. Then once I have the picture and website I can make the layout for the magnets. Then I can ship them off, hopefully that will be right around August sometime.

I've been looking into decorations too. I picked up a couple things to decorate the baskets with that I plan on buying to hold the bubbles and birdseed but I still need some other materials. And neither of the unity candle holders I ordered have even been shipped yet so I'm waiting on those as well, hopefully they'll be here this week.

Other than that I have not been doing anything, I have so many ideas that run through my head daily..its starting to get chaotic! ha This past weekend we worked in our yard and laid some grass seed so hopefully we'll get some grass soon. Next weekend we're going to finish laying the hardwood floors that we've been working on for two weekends! Hopefully this will help take my mind off wedding planning a little bit.

Its been awhile

Its been about two weeks since my last post. I haven't really done anything wedding related latley so I didn't want to post and have nothing really to say. I did shop around and I ordered two unity candle holders that I liked. I couldn't decide between the two so I figured I'd order both and return the one I didn't like. I bought one off the knot (the one on the top) and then one off ebay (the one on the bottom). Hopefully I like the one I got off ebay better that way I can return the one from the knot because I don't think the one I got off ebay is returnable.

I also have made the pocketfolds for almost all 200 invitations. I only need like 175 I think but I'll make 200 to be safe for those unexpected last minute additions. I still haven't ordered the paper for the inside of the invitations because I want that shiny metallic paper and I'm not sure if you can emboss on that type of paper, so I have to wait and find out first.

I also get to call the ceremony/reception venue lady today and hopefully officially get her booked. We're getting our rebate checks by the 16th so I'm hoping to mail out the check by then! I also plan on mailing my dad the contract for the photographer next week and then having him take her the check and everything so she'll be officially booked too! Things are finally starting!

More Ideas

So I'm still looking into decorations and ideas for the ceremony. I've decided I also want to have water bottles at the ceremony with our monogram on the label, I looked into it and its actually a LOT cheaper then I thought it would be. I went to http://www.bottleyourbrand.com/ and its only like $1.00 for a bottle with a custom label. NICE. This link is for a water bottle template I found..not sure yet if I'll use it but I def. wanted it saved for later-- http://www.mediafire.com/?x4rwwfg6hmh .I also want monogrammed coasters and napkins as well, I think I'm going to go with http://www.napkinspersonalized.com/ for the napkins. I got a sample in the mail today and I like the colors. As for the coasters, I still have to check into those.

I also got a sample of a fan wedding program from http://www.custom-programs.com/ and I know it's the type of program I want. I'm definitley going to make them myself but I ordered a sample from them to use sort of as a template and to get ideas on what to include on them. I def. also want to do the two toned papers as well. I really like the look of the darker one with the lighter one and the design on them as well. I'll probably emboss some sort of design on them, I like the flowers that are there so I'll probably try to do something like that, that's a LLOOOONNNGGG time away though :)

I've also been looking into invitations and save the dates too. I plan on doing both myself as well. The invitations will definitley be pocketfold invitations. I've been looking around for people that can custom cut paper as big as I need it and that have the right color paper that I want. These are the PERFECT pocketfold invitations which I took from a knottie, whose web bio is http://www.roadtotheaisle.blogspot.com/ She made everything by herself, she's a complete DIY'er and her stuff is always amazing!

I can't wait to get started on all of my own DIY projects! Pretty soon!

Decorations

So I've been looking around for decorations and accessories I'm going to want at the ceremony and reception. I'm having the ceremony outside and I know I want those white folding wooden chairs. I think that will look so pretty, especially compared to metal black ones or something. ha I'm having another knottie make me a custom aisle runner as well so I'll have that which I plan on lining with flower petals and then I plan on putting some sort of flower arrangement on the side of the chairs that are facing the aisle as well. The custom monogram the knottie is making for me to go on the aisle runner will also be attatches to the unity candle too (I love custom things ha) I definitley also plan on having those wand bubbles, which I already have ordered and just started tying bows onto, and birdseed in tulle that I want people to blow and throw after we get married. Other than that I haven't decided to much for the ceremony.

For the reception I know I want to order those straws that have the extra long flex neck so you can tie them into love knots, I know its nothing huge but its cute. I also plan on ordering customized napkins as well from the same monogram that I'm going to use on the aisle runner and unity candle. I've been shopping around for napkins and places that will print them for me but so far theres not to many choices, and I love choices. I also plan on having sparklers that my guests can light as we're getting ready to leave the reception. I've seen pictures of this before and think its BEAUTIFUL :) Although I've been checking around for sparklers and they're actually quite expensive. What do you expect though when you dont' want them to be red and blue like the ones around the 4th of July. ha I've also found some candles I like that I plan on putting somewhere. The first ones I've found were molded into the shape of cakes and I plan on putting them probably somewhere around the cake. The other ones are four seperate hearts, each that say a letter l-o-v-e and they're really cute to, although I'm not sure where I'll put them. Since I'm having the reception in a pavillion as well I plan on covering the posts with tulle and then putting some sort of flower piece in the middle of each one (I need to find a picture though, its sort of hard to imagine) and then stringing icicle lights all around the perimeter as well. I love lights, especially icicle ones :) Hopefully more ideas will come, I know I dont need to many things becuase I'll have a lot of flower arrangements and stuff but I just love decorating so I want to do more. I guess I'll just have to decide on everything else later though...hmm...