Alright friends. Now that I'm officially done with school it's time to start crossing things off my list. I'm spending time with my mom this week and we've been trading wedding ideas back and forth.
I finally visited our little ceremony church. It's even better than the photos my parents took. So perfect for us.
I've been working on the design of our save the dates. We're going super simple and basic and convenient. I plan on ordering some magnets with an engagement photo and all the basic info. I was too afraid people would throw out a piece of paper. So if they can just stick it on their refrigerator for the next 8 months and be reminded of our date and website. And our cute smiling faces. Vistaprint has excellent prices.
We've been working on invitation templates and wording too. Thinking about going with a more general and casual "together with our parents" to avoid trying to figure out the proper way to write out Fiance's remarried parents' names. Still haven't found a design that I love, though I've got the wording and fonts down. (Using an old typewriter font as a nod to Fiance's screenwriting profession.) I may eat my words later, but my goal is to get invites printed and done well in advance. Timing on things is going to get really tricky, our wedding is the last weekend in February. Mailing the invites 8 weeks in advance puts us right at January 1. I definitely want to make sure all holidays are over and people are done with christmas cards before trying to send wedding invites. I also don't want to spend my holidays printing/addressing invites. November also happens to contain 6 birthdays in our family plus thanksgiving. So invites need to be done, and even addressed by the beginning of November at the latest. Also my goal for most DIY type projects. Then I can minimize stress during the holidays and save final to-dos for after the craziness.
And with paper items comes guest list. We need to figure that one out still, start collecting addresses.
June 30, 2010
June 29, 2010
Everything to Me
(warning...potentially mushy gushy post)
Music plays a pretty big role in our relationship (and as I've seen going around blog world, obviously does in just about everyone else's relationships!). Fiance helped grow and mold my taste in music and expand my horizons. One of his top 3 childhood dreams was to become a musician. He knows his way around a guitar. There are a few different bands within his circle of friends. We tend to be old souls, seeking a sound with a blues edge. It is very effective for a guy like fiance who has a difficult time expressing his emotions with regular words. Music has continually defined our relationship.
-He had me make a mix cd before we even started dating with bands like The Who, Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Elton John
-Fiance serenaded me with Bob Dylan's "Wallflower" when he asked me to prom (yes we went to senior prom together =D)
-We danced to the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" on a hilltop overlooking sacramento the night he told me he loved me
-He made up this whole mime with ridiculous facial expressions and hand gestures to the Stones' "Beast of Burden". That song still makes me laugh, and reminds me of driving to the bank with him the summer after high school graduation
-i got us tickets to see bruce springsteen in concert for a graduation present
-He typed up the words to Dylan's "I'll Keep It with Mine" for me when we broke up early in our relationship
-Jackie Greene's "Falling Back" defined us after getting back together
-Lyle Lovett's "Nobody Knows Me" always reminds me of sweet moments
-We saw bob dylan in concert (and kings of leon opened!)
-On road trips up to Northern California we sing Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher" at the top of our lungs
-we saw BB king in concert
-fiance says I'm his favorite person, Ray Lamontagne's "You are the best thing" was a perfect fit
-When I went to Europe, Coldplay's viva la vida had just come out, and "strawberry swing" made me miss fiance terribly
-when fiance picked me up from LAX when i got back from europe, he sang Joe Cocker's "you are so beautiful" while we sat in traffic on the 405
-Van Morrison's "sweet thing" has always been one of fiance's favorite songs. He had it playing when he proposed to me.
-Fiance tries to fit Tom Waits songs into any situation. His song "Picture in a Frame" will most likely be our first dance.
Music plays a pretty big role in our relationship (and as I've seen going around blog world, obviously does in just about everyone else's relationships!). Fiance helped grow and mold my taste in music and expand my horizons. One of his top 3 childhood dreams was to become a musician. He knows his way around a guitar. There are a few different bands within his circle of friends. We tend to be old souls, seeking a sound with a blues edge. It is very effective for a guy like fiance who has a difficult time expressing his emotions with regular words. Music has continually defined our relationship.
-He had me make a mix cd before we even started dating with bands like The Who, Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Elton John
-Fiance serenaded me with Bob Dylan's "Wallflower" when he asked me to prom (yes we went to senior prom together =D)
-We danced to the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" on a hilltop overlooking sacramento the night he told me he loved me
-He made up this whole mime with ridiculous facial expressions and hand gestures to the Stones' "Beast of Burden". That song still makes me laugh, and reminds me of driving to the bank with him the summer after high school graduation
-i got us tickets to see bruce springsteen in concert for a graduation present
-He typed up the words to Dylan's "I'll Keep It with Mine" for me when we broke up early in our relationship
-Jackie Greene's "Falling Back" defined us after getting back together
-Lyle Lovett's "Nobody Knows Me" always reminds me of sweet moments
-We saw bob dylan in concert (and kings of leon opened!)
-On road trips up to Northern California we sing Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher" at the top of our lungs
-we saw BB king in concert
-fiance says I'm his favorite person, Ray Lamontagne's "You are the best thing" was a perfect fit
-When I went to Europe, Coldplay's viva la vida had just come out, and "strawberry swing" made me miss fiance terribly
-when fiance picked me up from LAX when i got back from europe, he sang Joe Cocker's "you are so beautiful" while we sat in traffic on the 405
-Van Morrison's "sweet thing" has always been one of fiance's favorite songs. He had it playing when he proposed to me.
-Fiance tries to fit Tom Waits songs into any situation. His song "Picture in a Frame" will most likely be our first dance.
June 27, 2010
consumption
So weddings are about being true to ourselves as a couple. Something I have noticed at the few weddings I have been to is the amount of waste involved. I mean garbage bag after garbage bag of stuff thrown out. I really don't like to be wasteful. I at least try to recycle, but really its about reduction. Minimize the amount of stuff used, only what you really need.
I've seen negative arguments for renting plates/glasses/silverware (i.e. impersonal, feeds the wedding industry, etc). But really, it's an incredibly sustainable thing for the WIC to be doing. Rental companies purchase high quality, timeless items and then allow brides to reuse them. Some argue it is more cost efficient to purchase at thrift stores. I have nothing against mismatching plates, I just don't have the time or energy to seek out 200 dinner plates, or store them. And then they'll just be donated again, because you can't sell them back to a thrift store (I suppose you could try etsy/ebay). It's too much work for me, I'll just rent, and know that I will have enough of everything on time and then give them back.
I understand they make very fancy paper/plastic/bamboo plates and utensils nowadays. But even when using compostable materials, you must ensure that they are actually being composted. Putting biodegradable materials into the trash which is sent to a landfill will not allow them to biodegrade. They will be in bags, out of sunlight and away from nutrient rich dirt needed to break down the materials.
This is essentially my argument against wedding favors. I have yet to see anything truly eye catching that people won't just throw away. I suppose food is a good one, but most of those special treats are in fancy packaging that still gets thrown out. That plantable cardstock is pretty cool, and they make some that doesn't look like the paper I made in 3rd grade with a window screen. But how many people do I know that have gardens and/or will actually plant it? It's also why I'm trying to minimize decorations. With flowers, I know that when they die, we will be able to throw them in the backyard to degrade properly (because the reception is at my in-laws' home).
I've seen negative arguments for renting plates/glasses/silverware (i.e. impersonal, feeds the wedding industry, etc). But really, it's an incredibly sustainable thing for the WIC to be doing. Rental companies purchase high quality, timeless items and then allow brides to reuse them. Some argue it is more cost efficient to purchase at thrift stores. I have nothing against mismatching plates, I just don't have the time or energy to seek out 200 dinner plates, or store them. And then they'll just be donated again, because you can't sell them back to a thrift store (I suppose you could try etsy/ebay). It's too much work for me, I'll just rent, and know that I will have enough of everything on time and then give them back.
I understand they make very fancy paper/plastic/bamboo plates and utensils nowadays. But even when using compostable materials, you must ensure that they are actually being composted. Putting biodegradable materials into the trash which is sent to a landfill will not allow them to biodegrade. They will be in bags, out of sunlight and away from nutrient rich dirt needed to break down the materials.
This is essentially my argument against wedding favors. I have yet to see anything truly eye catching that people won't just throw away. I suppose food is a good one, but most of those special treats are in fancy packaging that still gets thrown out. That plantable cardstock is pretty cool, and they make some that doesn't look like the paper I made in 3rd grade with a window screen. But how many people do I know that have gardens and/or will actually plant it? It's also why I'm trying to minimize decorations. With flowers, I know that when they die, we will be able to throw them in the backyard to degrade properly (because the reception is at my in-laws' home).
June 26, 2010
moxie
Non pareil magazine had some great silver screen inspired photo shoots, but my favorite? the Mad Men shoot.
I'm not usually a huge fan of over stylized "fake" weddings, but this one I LOVED. It felt so simple and yet totally evoked a 60s feel. Those mint juleps to go are fantastic. I love everything vintage for sure, and I'm slightly obsessed with the show. Christina Hendricks is my idol, and I love that every character is so flawed...and believable.
I think this would be my wedding's nighttime alter ego. Simple tuscan market by day, citified manhattan dinner party by night.
I'm not usually a huge fan of over stylized "fake" weddings, but this one I LOVED. It felt so simple and yet totally evoked a 60s feel. Those mint juleps to go are fantastic. I love everything vintage for sure, and I'm slightly obsessed with the show. Christina Hendricks is my idol, and I love that every character is so flawed...and believable.
I think this would be my wedding's nighttime alter ego. Simple tuscan market by day, citified manhattan dinner party by night.
June 25, 2010
:)
Fiance's roommate is one of our photographer friends, he took our engagement photos. He is self-taught at photography and photoshop. He works on the side as a photographer's assistant though his primary goal is film editing. Bonus points? He gave us a CD plus a couple edited photos printed, THE NEXT MORNING. wonderful. We only ended up having 2 hours to shoot, so we'll probably do some more at a later time (for other various reasons). We went up to Griffith Park and Observatory, where fiance proposed. There were just a few differences, this weekend was day, not night, and it was about 85 degrees instead of wintery cold. So here's a couple vague photos since I haven't decided how anonymous I want to be:
(you can click to enlarge)
(you can click to enlarge)
Photos by Brian Nelson
(he doesn't regularly do wedding photos but he does assist another photographer)
(he doesn't regularly do wedding photos but he does assist another photographer)
June 24, 2010
clean
My dear uncle is getting married tomorrow!
As I have begun attending more weddings, my favorite part tends to be the ceremony. While thinking about our own ceremony, I don't have a lot of ideas. We don't plan to write our own vows, too much pressure for me, plus fiance is a writer by profession and I work with numbers...I like the idea of saying vows that thousands of couples have said before, strengthening the meaning behind them. As far as other traditions (i.e. sand pouring), none have really resonated with me. Until I saw this photo:
Washing another's feet is a symbol of self-sacrificial love. It is predominant in the christian faith, but I find it to be terribly intimate and romantic. I love the tangible show of committing to care for the other person and putting them before yourself.
It might sound a bit odd, and logistically a little difficult, but I think it would be such a beautiful moment during a wedding ceremony. Fiance and I love the idea, but we'll have to run it by the pastor first, since our ceremony will be indoors.
(photos by shanni weilert photography)
As I have begun attending more weddings, my favorite part tends to be the ceremony. While thinking about our own ceremony, I don't have a lot of ideas. We don't plan to write our own vows, too much pressure for me, plus fiance is a writer by profession and I work with numbers...I like the idea of saying vows that thousands of couples have said before, strengthening the meaning behind them. As far as other traditions (i.e. sand pouring), none have really resonated with me. Until I saw this photo:
(photos by shanni weilert photography)
June 22, 2010
photo magic
This post from ESB freaked me out. It would probably be my one wedding nightmare. Anything else I'd be able to laugh off, even spilling something on my dress or goofing up the words to my vows. But the photographer losing the photos to your wedding? I would die. It is the one area that my mom said we're not allowed to skimp on. We must have good photos.
Here's a little background. My family is TERRIBLE at taking photos. My whole life is documented up until about age 5 and then things get spotty. There's even less of my little brother, although we do have him on video (which we didn't have when I was younger). For the years since then, most is documented by rogue disposable cameras that my grandma always has around. I suppose we're usually just too in the moment or enjoying ourselves (or stuffing our faces with food) to be bothered to document every get together. No one in my family got a single photo of me at graduation, or at my party. And there were about 20 people involved over a course of 5-6 hours. Not one photo. I keep trying to make a pact with myself to take more photos...but it's just not in my blood. It kinda sucks, fiance and I barely have any photos documenting the last 4 1/2 years. So engagement photos and wedding photos are key.
Yeah, we got lucky and have 3 friends who are quite talented with a camera. People may think I'm crazy, but I want all 3 to document at least part of the wedding. Call it an insurance policy if you want, but I also like the idea of having different perspectives and styles. And then 1 or 2 can take a break and enjoy the day, since they are also our friends that we want to celebrate with! We will compensate accordingly of course.
Here's a little background. My family is TERRIBLE at taking photos. My whole life is documented up until about age 5 and then things get spotty. There's even less of my little brother, although we do have him on video (which we didn't have when I was younger). For the years since then, most is documented by rogue disposable cameras that my grandma always has around. I suppose we're usually just too in the moment or enjoying ourselves (or stuffing our faces with food) to be bothered to document every get together. No one in my family got a single photo of me at graduation, or at my party. And there were about 20 people involved over a course of 5-6 hours. Not one photo. I keep trying to make a pact with myself to take more photos...but it's just not in my blood. It kinda sucks, fiance and I barely have any photos documenting the last 4 1/2 years. So engagement photos and wedding photos are key.
Yeah, we got lucky and have 3 friends who are quite talented with a camera. People may think I'm crazy, but I want all 3 to document at least part of the wedding. Call it an insurance policy if you want, but I also like the idea of having different perspectives and styles. And then 1 or 2 can take a break and enjoy the day, since they are also our friends that we want to celebrate with! We will compensate accordingly of course.
All in the family
My mom is so funny. She's really embracing the role of mother-of-the-bride. Every time I see her she gives me more wedding magazines. When she gets together with her friend Suzy (who will be friendor extraordinaire), she calls me to report their brainstorming sessions.
Most recently she has suggested galvanized tin buckets. Yes! Perfect farmer's market vibe.
Also I have learned that Suzy is growing english lavender on her ranch. Score! And she has olive trees, that I can cut branches off for arrangements. Double score!
Suzy also arranges flowers, is an interior decorator, is the best thrifter/antiquer on the planet, and has a wholesale license. Which means she can help us purchase any supplies we need in bulk, whether it be decor or beverages (costco offers special prices at earlier hours for wholesale). Yes!
Most recently she has suggested galvanized tin buckets. Yes! Perfect farmer's market vibe.
Also I have learned that Suzy is growing english lavender on her ranch. Score! And she has olive trees, that I can cut branches off for arrangements. Double score!
Suzy also arranges flowers, is an interior decorator, is the best thrifter/antiquer on the planet, and has a wholesale license. Which means she can help us purchase any supplies we need in bulk, whether it be decor or beverages (costco offers special prices at earlier hours for wholesale). Yes!
June 21, 2010
hello!
I'm back. Refreshed and relaxed. Ready to tackle a to-do list as tall as me.
That exciting news that I left you hanging with? I start a 3 month internship in downtown LA in 3 weeks.
Pros: it's paid, I'll be living in the same county as fiance, it's my dream company, and I can take public transportation to work.
Cons: I have 3 weeks to find a temporary apartment...
Oh and we got engagement photos taken. Fun stuff to come!
That exciting news that I left you hanging with? I start a 3 month internship in downtown LA in 3 weeks.
Pros: it's paid, I'll be living in the same county as fiance, it's my dream company, and I can take public transportation to work.
Cons: I have 3 weeks to find a temporary apartment...
Oh and we got engagement photos taken. Fun stuff to come!
June 14, 2010
leave of absence
hello dear friends. I officially have a bachelor's degree. It still hasn't quite sunk in yet. I am commencing radio silence for the week to enjoy vacation time with my beloved family. I will return with plenty of wedding updates, there are already some ideas rolling around in my head and progress made on several fronts.
June 11, 2010
big stuff
Love is about celebrating milestones together. Meg talks about it here. Tonight Fiance along with the rest of my family arrive to begin the celebrations. The next time all those family and friends will be in one place celebrating will be a wedding. One of my bridesmaids graduated a few weeks ago and held a grad party (I couldn't go, it was in northern california). When she told me about it, she didn't recall the food, and there weren't decorations. It was the people. One friend even rented a car and drove 2 hours after being out of the country. All of her friends and family were present and they had a toast to her. She said it was such a surreal and moving experience. It was a rite of passage, a huge moment in her life as she moves on into a new phase. Kind of like a wedding.
June 10, 2010
it is finished
well my dears,
just took my last final of undergrad. (and received exciting news!) time to celebrate.
just took my last final of undergrad. (and received exciting news!) time to celebrate.
(via)
There will be no shortage of this in the coming days, especially during my little graduation party on Saturday!
June 8, 2010
love
Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I'm an impatient person when it comes to life unveiling itself. But I'm glad I have this blog to document this whole process.
I'm supposed to be studying for finals...(shh!)
so here's some prettiness for now
running off to venice to get married is so dreamy.
one of my top 10 favorite cities.
definitely going back with fiance for a romantic vacation someday in the far off future.
I'm supposed to be studying for finals...(shh!)
so here's some prettiness for now
running off to venice to get married is so dreamy.
one of my top 10 favorite cities.
definitely going back with fiance for a romantic vacation someday in the far off future.
(via)
June 7, 2010
fear
this is definitely the stress talking (last finals week EVER) but here goes anyway. having a relationship long distance SUCKS. being engaged long distance is no fun. because of school we've only been able to see each other once every two weeks. we talk on the phone every day but lately that has been detrimental. we're tired of living 80 miles apart and having separate lives. we've been fighting more frequently mostly due to frustration of not being able to see each other's face and be in each other's presence. Misinterpretation (of tone, wording, lack of words) has been ruling our lives and it is not cool.
The length of our engagement was the ONLY compromise we had to make with our parents. A 15 month engagement instead of 10, so that I could start working and they could save money. I kind of wish we had to compromise on something else. I don't necessary wish that we were getting married next month or anything, but maybe that he had proposed later? I don't know. I want to be married asap, but february just makes the most sense for us. I need time to actually get a job and maybe actually start a savings account, stop living off my parents. And finding an entry level job in this economy is going to take a lot longer than I had thought. I graduate Saturday and have no prospects.
Meg is doing a series on money this week and I'm looking forward to it. Although her readership tends to be a generation ahead of me, people with careers and assets, I need advice for the young and poor demographic. Money terrifies me and being unemployed with no savings and getting MARRIED is unthinkable.
I know I know, it'll be okay, and we have plenty of people that support us. but at this time in my life there are far more unknowns than knowns and trying to balance this equation is just plain scary.
The length of our engagement was the ONLY compromise we had to make with our parents. A 15 month engagement instead of 10, so that I could start working and they could save money. I kind of wish we had to compromise on something else. I don't necessary wish that we were getting married next month or anything, but maybe that he had proposed later? I don't know. I want to be married asap, but february just makes the most sense for us. I need time to actually get a job and maybe actually start a savings account, stop living off my parents. And finding an entry level job in this economy is going to take a lot longer than I had thought. I graduate Saturday and have no prospects.
Meg is doing a series on money this week and I'm looking forward to it. Although her readership tends to be a generation ahead of me, people with careers and assets, I need advice for the young and poor demographic. Money terrifies me and being unemployed with no savings and getting MARRIED is unthinkable.
I know I know, it'll be okay, and we have plenty of people that support us. but at this time in my life there are far more unknowns than knowns and trying to balance this equation is just plain scary.
June 5, 2010
yes please
It's official. I'm obsessed with having a lily of the valley bouquet. They're so elegant and old fashioned and smell wonderful. They're pricey...so they won't be showing up in any other arrangements. But look at the prettiness!
June 4, 2010
boys
I love me a man in a suit. Specifically Fiance in a suit. I really want him to get a new suit for the wedding (I'm rooting for charcoal grey). It's practical, re-wearable and I would like it to be well-fitted (preferably a slim, modern fit). I've never been impressed by rentals. Here's some inspiration:
Dying over this three piece...Fiance loves vests
And this snazzy guy. Notice my affinity for the small rectangular sliver of a pocket square. so retro 60s. love.
Dying over this three piece...Fiance loves vests
Jon Hamm a la Mad Men...duhhhh. I'm liking the light tie and shirt with the dark suit.
(via the impossible cool)
(by sarah yates)
June 3, 2010
June 2, 2010
shanny lee
so if you ever noticed my little sidebar of links, you may have wondered who that shanny lee lady is. Well friends, she is a super awesome photographer and friend. She does photojournalism and lifestyle shots as well as weddings. She has the most brilliant perspective and can always find little fleeting moments and calming scenes. She is so passionate about life, it's absolutely infectious. She will be shooting our wedding. (well hopefully, she did just get dual citizenship in italy so...she may buy a one way ticket to italy and never come back. ;D)
Here's her website. Go look at every single photo. right now.
And in particular, her wedding portfolio
(you should also check out her italy portfolio. she spent the past two whole summers there. jealousss)
She lives in California but I know she's definitely is willing to travel. You should contact her. She'll be your new BFF.
Here's her website. Go look at every single photo. right now.
And in particular, her wedding portfolio
(you should also check out her italy portfolio. she spent the past two whole summers there. jealousss)
She lives in California but I know she's definitely is willing to travel. You should contact her. She'll be your new BFF.
June 1, 2010
lavender and lemonade.
(via snippet and ink)
so pretty. Just a touch of lavender in the flowers is all I'm going for, and soft muted neutrals. although I would like to get my hands on some of that pale purple glass!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)