Friday, December 9, 2011

Long over due update

I am a negligent blogger.  I apologize.

But on to business.  I have finally update my wedding website, not by much, just our photo link and bridal party.  I just ordered our wedding invites, how stressful.  The pressure to pick what people will like and stay true to what you like is crazy.  I did end up picking the one I liked best (Mitchell too), with the encouragement and help from Melissa, THANK YOU!  And Lauren, Rachel and my mom helped with the opinion process too, thanks ladies.  I should get the digital proof soon, then the actuals and out they go.

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday we got the boys fitted for tuxes and ordered them.  I found flower girl dresses with help from Mom.  Also we are knee deep in mason jars and still collecting.  We chose our menu, the tasting was excellent.  We got together with Chat, our florist and friend, and put together mock centerpieces.  And we've chosen dates for pre-wedding events (bachelorete party and 2 showers...busy girls).

Those are the highlights for now, and here's to hoping I start updating more regularly.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Moving right along

I booked our honeymoon!!  We are going on a 7 night cruise in the Western Caribbean.  I am so excited!  This will be our first trip to the Caribbean and one of ports is Belize, which is somewhere Mitchell has wanted to go for a while now.  Yay!



Next up on the planning front, we have 2 more bakeries to try out and our tasting for the menu coming up, all fun stuff.  Now we are figuring out favors and invites, hopefully plan to get stuff ordered by December.  Oh and the boy's tuxes!  They go in for fittings and the picking of styles next week.  Thank goodness for having all of the big stuff decided, now its just the details.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Something stressful this way comes

My bridesmaid's dress got here and they're even better than I had hoped!  The color is perfect and they're super cute, in my opinion anyways. 

And the time has come, my stress is hitting.  There is just so much left to do and we're one week away from the 5 month mark.  We still need a cake, invitations, tuxes, hair and make-up, yikes!  I'm getting side tracked and I just need to focus and start checking stuff of the list.  At the top of that list right now is invites, cake and the menu (aka. meet with the caterer).

I also haven't really thought about the wedding rehearsal and where that is going to be, plus we have to book that and arrange payment.  And my parents keep asking about setting aside a block of rooms at a hotel near the venue...too much.

I need to take a brake, enjoy my birthday and Halloween.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Status Report

I can safely say that things are on their way.  We have consolidated our DIY projects, bye-bye cranes.  My dress is in!!  I am going this Friday to try it on, not a fitting, just to make sure everything was ordered correctly....and it better be!  Lol

I have been on a mad hunt for flower girl dresses.  I'm not wild about the miniature bride look for them, and have therefore been searching for a colored dress for the girls.  It is harder than it sounds.  Nothing seems to be the right color.  I have found one ivory dress that I think is super cute, J. Crew, I just have to reconcile the fact that they are "white" and get over it I think.

On another note I have invitation samples coming in the mail and our guest list is being finalized...again, harder than you would think.  Our nice smallish family and friend wedding might possibly become a hoopla but I am doing my best to control the situation.  Wish me luck.

To come....cake tasting, menu, and ordering the tuxes.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Long delayed update

So I bought a mason Jar at the swap meet, well Mitchell's dad bought it for us, but we brought it home =).  It's full of cornmeal....for now.  I'm going to use it as a test for our centerpieces.  Hopefully I like it or its back to the drawing board.

We have a meeting with our photographer this Friday to get stuff figured out; shot lists, the second shooter, preliminary day plan, etc.  We are trying to set up a meeting with the venue to figure out linens and the plan for the day and to book their B&B overnight.  Its hard right now with my schedule because I'm just so busy, but we'll make it work.

Once those things are settled we're going to try cakes, then menus, then who knows...

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Procrastination....uh oh

Last week I ordered swatches for the bridesmaid dress because we are ordering them online but I panicked because I didn't want to order anything without being sure of the color.  Well I got the swatches yesterday, loved them.  So I know have colors (and once we order the dresses I can't change my mind....in theory).  One huge step done.   Now that colors are decided I can start buying stuff and crafting...yikes.



In other news, we are meeting with an officiant Thursday.  She's a woman I met at the Bridal Bazaar, also happens to be one of The Knot's top picks.  We are on the fence about having a woman officiant, I'm all for equality and all that, I've just never been to a wedding where there was a female officiant so I have to get out of that mindset.  She was very nice when I meet her and very easy to talk to so that's good.  Thank you Nicole for making me open minded, lol.

 Next up on the planning block: invites (just in time for Arielle and Caitlin to come visit), cake, and center pieces.



Monday, August 29, 2011

Countdown begins!

DJ = CHECK! 

We found a guy, really like him.  Now we have wedding homework, song lists.

Next projects: Cake toppers, the cake (that's important), the center pieces, and an officiant.

The center pieces I'm going to try and do myself, however I recognize that it's a big project and I may not be able to execute it to my satisfaction.  But I am starting now, that way if I don't like it I can hire a professional.  I'm acutely aware that I only have 7 months left!!!  yikes!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

End of the summer panic

The save the dates have been sent!  We're meeting with a DJ next week, who hopefully won't creep me out (but let's face it, its a possibility).  Wish us luck.

On another not; it is now time for the DIY portion of the wedding prep to commence.  I'm hoping to start with the small stuff and get the centerpieces done by the New Year.  If you have free time and are crafty I would love help  ;) it'll be fun, I promise!  Well I'll feed helper elves.

Up next: bakeries and a meeting with the venue.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Progress Report

I got my Save the Dates in the mail!!  The best part about getting them was that they came in a box with little elephants all over them.  So hopefully I'll be sending those out next week, I'd do it sooner but we'll be in Baltimore this weekend.



Also, because all the wedding magazines told me we should have done this a month ago, we registered.  Now it seems really early to me, however I do see a lot of merit to registering this early because its hard work.  A lot less fun than I thought it would be, don't get me wrong, it was still fun but a lot of work.  This is also good because when people ask what I want for my birthday or Christmas I can just tell them where I'm registered, just kidding.  =D

That's it for now.  Up next, an officiant and a DJ (yikes).

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Progress Report

The Bridal Bazaar was crazy madness!!!  And AWESOME!  We got the names and meet a lot of really good DJ's and some bakery's.  We got to try so many types of cake, Flour Power was amazing!  Unfortunately they don't offer anything GF (gluten free) so if I choose them I'd get the cake there and do cupcakes GF from another bakery.

I'm in the process of ordering Save the Dates, so keep an eye on the mail.  Oh!  And I ordered my DIY cake toppers, which I will be painting myself so wish me luck.

I think that's it for now.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Update on the planning process

So the planning seems to have come to a standstill for now.  I'm waiting til I can make it to the Bridal Bazaar next weekend (Yay Alli for getting the tickets!!  Thanks Lady!).  Hopefully I can find a florist, bakery and officiant I like there.  Rebecca (a friend of mine who works in the planning business) is sending me a list of her top DJs, definitely appreciate that.  She's run about a million events!  Also, I got a great idea for a cake from Kristina.  I might write to Cake Challenge and see if they pick up the idea.  Lol, it would be awesome!

We got our engagement photos back, they look awesome.  I love the candids, Mitchell loves the posed shots.  So for the wedding we've decided to make a shot list of posed and candid shots we have to get.  Plus I plan to have Arielle stand near us telling us to take off our sunglasses, tilt our chins up and stand up straight.  It's going to be awesome!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

It's all in my head

For the last two weeks I have been seriously stressed our about wedding colors and themes and stupid detail stuff.  I think this all hit because its getting to be the time where we need to start purchasing things; bridesmaid dresses, ordering flowers, invites, save the dates, etc....but to do this you need to know what the wedding is going to look like (at least in your mind).  I do know what I want it to look like, kind of.

The hard part is I knew exactly what I wanted, for a fall wedding.  I never really considered anything else.  I had the fall option but we decided spring was better, less of a wait, we get an anniversary that's not right next to both of our birthdays, and nice weather.  However, this means all the visions I had of pumpkins and hay bales and an outdoor rustic fall wedding don't really apply.  So I've had to really sit down and think about what I want, all the while avoiding the pressure of making sure its "me" and unique and not the same old same old, which I don't want.  I want this to be a reflection of who Mitchell and I are, what we like, and still be elegant and tasteful (aka no beer pong or Disney paraphernalia everywhere).

So I believe that I have settled on colors, cross your fingers I don't change my mind again because Mitchell may strangle me.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Yikes

Well I just woke up from my first wedding nightmare, and let me just tell you, NOT FUN.  Apparently we hadn't arranged for an officiant so my mom was doing it, problem one.  I forgot my bouquet and veil and didn't realize until halfway down the aisle, but I was carrying my cell phone and Ipod in true Erin fashion.  Then halfway through the ceremony everyone except me got up and started walking behind the ceremony to the beach that was apparently there, and I just decided, I'm out.  Then I left, and was eventually chased by Mitchell and Lauren into a McDonald's where Mitchell was ready to drag me back..  So overall not the worst nightmare, but not a great feeling.

I am officially booking my officiant within the next 2 weeks!

Also for those of you I haven't talked to I'm having a wedding color crisis/change of heart.  We've thrown out at least 3 sets of color options...probably more...but 3 I was serious about.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Part One....done!

I PICKED A DRESS!!! 

The wedding is officially good to go.  We have a location, chairs, catering, a dress, and a photographer what else do we need?  Other than a DJ, officiant, florist, cake, etc....yikes!  We're looking to our officiant currently, apparently you have to book way in advance so that we can go to counseling sessions with them, bleh.  Wish us luck...and hopefully we'll find someone not creepy.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Progress Report

The dress search is on!  We went on Tuesday and I found one definitely possibility (I LOVED IT).  But to be fair and make sure that it is really the right one and not just my dislike for trying on clothes we're going out today to a couple more stores.  Wish me luck.

On another note, we've taken over 1500 photos.  I guess we can consider them engagement photos.  They will be for our save the dates and other stuff.  Arielle went with us all day one day, trooper!!  Thanks Arielle!!  The pictures are turning out really good.  Now hopefully we have a couple weeks break from photo taking.

My homework for the week: pick a theme for this wedding!!!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

On to th next thing then

We've chosen a location!!!!  We put down our deposit and signed the contract!!!!  It's official!!!

Los Willows
March 31, 2012

Now, time for dress shopping.  My mom and I are going to start shopping next week, since Lauren's home and I wanted her to be able to come with us if she wants to.  I have a couple photos and designers I like, but I know I'm going to have to try on a bunch of silhouettes to see what looks back.  One thing I have learned from watching "Say Yes to the Dress" is that what I go in liking, may not be what looks best on me.  One thing I can guarantee is that there will be no taffeta.  No tutus for me thank you very much.

Monday, May 16, 2011

One down, 999 to go

WE CHOSE  A VENUE!!

We're going with Los Willows.  It beat out all the other venues in my pro/com lists, Mitchell and most of you liked it the best, and I like that there are hotels and places to stay near by for people who don't want to drive home late at night. 

Now I get to make the other hundreds of decisions that come with a wedding...here comes the work. 



Also, I went and tried on dresses for the first time on Saturday, and let me just say OVERWHELMING.  Its awkward because I'm not 100% sure how I am supposed to respond when people ask "so what do you think" or "how do you feel in this one?"  Because my response is that I feel like I'm being eaten by tulle and satin or that I look like a cake topper that escaped.  Despite this I may have found a dress I loved, only time will tell.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Revelation

I don't know why it is so hard for me to commit to a venue, lies, I know why.  Once I pick the venue its real.  I have to start looking for a DJ and find a dress, rent tuxes, get a photographer, etc.... In short, as soon as I pick a venue the work begins and the day dreamy fun is put on the back burner...still there, but not as all consuming. 

Regardless of my impending future the task still stands, I have to chose.  Well thanks to friends/family I have been able to at least eliminate a couple.  It's coming down to the Orfila Winery v. Los Willows.  I have pro con lists made and what its coming down to is what kind of wedding do I want?  Vineyard or lake...both have possibilities and I could see us getting married at either.  But Mitchell and I have decided one more day of looking.  Next Sunday we will go check out the Rancho Bernardo Winery and a friend's godmother's location in Escondido, then I'll take Mitchell by Los Willows and Orfilia, since he hasn't seen either yet.

(right Alli?)

On the other hand I found a picture of a dress I LOVE!!!!!!  And a store in SD that carries the designer!!!!  Now I just need to weigh 110 lbs so I can wear it like the model....HA, not happening.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

When all the glass slippers fit, then what?

I'm in trouble.  Of the two locations we saw today I liked both, the Orfilia Winery and Twin Oaks Estates.  So now I have three serious contenders, and one more to see.  Yikes.  Its time for the Pro/con list, a very important decision making tool.  Also, Mitchell hasn't been able to see any of these places yet, once I narrow it down to two I should probably take him by.  I just didn't want to overwhelm him with the planning process.  We did discuss which portions he wants to be involved in, and the stuff he doesn't care at all about.  Needless to say he wants to be there to taste test, typical.  But I could very easily imagine having the wedding at any of these three places, that's the tough part, what to do with too many good fits.

Also, one of the places we saw, the Orfilia Winery (Loved) had pictures of a wedding with pumpkins, and I nearly died.  Now I'm worried if I'll be sad in 5 years because I didn't have my pumpkin wedding.  Save it for the 2nd marriage?  Just kidding, I don't think I'd survive planning a second wedding so this one better stick.

Wedding Website

OK I just started a wedding website, since Jamie and I were talking about it.  Its the one from The Knot website.  Not sure if I love it.  If anyone knows of a good site to use let me know please!!!  But for now this will work.

http://ErinAndMitchell.ourwedding.com

Now remember, I just started it, so there's not that much up yet.  Bear with me.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Decisions, decisions, decisions

So I knew going into this that there were going to be a million things we needed to decide, but GEEZ!!  All the magazines and websites give you lists and timelines and its a little overwhelming, but thank god that they do, otherwise I would have no idea when to do what.  It's actually a little like being in class again and having due dates for projects, which is good, I work well under pressure.

Anyways, here's where I'm at.  My mom and I are going to check out 2 more locations tomorrow, Orfilia Winery and Twin Oaks Estate.  But my front runner's so far are Los Willows http://www.loswillows.com/ and The Grand Tradition http://grandtradition.com/ (both in Fallbrook).  Their only downfall is location, kind of far....not awful, just not great.  I dunno, let me know what you guys think.

I've decided that I have to start looking for dresses starting end of June and I need to have picked one by July!  More to come on that though.....

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Why a wedding blog?

I wanted to start this blog to keep people updated on our wedding plans, without bombarding people who may not care with constant updates and facebook status stuff.  So pretty much I will be posting decisions we've made, where we are in the planning process, and pretty much anything to related to our upcoming nuptials.  Hopefully I both remember to post, and don't bore us all to death.

So first things first this is what we've talked about so far. 

The date we like is March 31, 2012.  It will be exactly 1 year from the proposal date and it happens to be a Saturday.  We toyed with the idea of a Fall wedding, since we all know I am crazy from pumpkins, but we think fall of 2012 is too far from now, and fall of 2011 is too soon, plus my b-day is Oct, and Mitchell's is Sept.

We've looked at a couple venues, 2 we liked in Fallbrook and we've ruled out Temecula...its too far.  I like the idea of an outdoor ceremony with either an indoor or tented reception.  Either way we need a venue that seats at least 150 people, since that is most likely our guest count.



And no, Disneyland is not an option.  I know everyone expects Disney from me, which is exactly why I'll stay away from it.  We had our Disney proposal, now we'll move on, which is for the best in the long run.