Wedding Wednesday

Is it too late for Wedding Wednesday? I know I'm almost out of time! I had a weird day and I feel a little sick.  I am not sure what is going on -- but it needs to go away. I decided to skip the gym tonight, take the dogs to the park with Matt, and eat lots of Thai food and Twizzler bites.  (Note, the sugar did not help my headache.) 

I feel like I'm really down to some fun details now.  The only thing I'm a bit worried about is hair and make-up but I'm hoping a good trial run will make me feel better.  I have been cruising cake toppers this week! They are cute and they make me smile.  

I had no idea there were so many different things out there.  Here are some that I thought were...um...interesting and some that I really love. 

Buck and Doe - this one is sold out but more from the Esty shop here if this floats your boat. 

Here are some cute, modern people for the comic lovers. 

These guys are sold but more from this Etsy shop here. 

Really liked the ones from Better Off Wed on Etsy, too! 

Something simple...

You knew this one was coming! Pugs!  Too bad it's $125. (really?!)

I'm taking votes! Happy Wednesday! 

~the engaged gal~

Wedding Wednesday: The Registry

I had to get my life together the last few weeks and get some wedding stuff done.  The florist has been paid in full, I finally got my last few Save the Date cards out, an address list out to my sister for our Friday night event pre-wedding, set a shower date, and I started our registry.  First -- let me say how much I love the age of the internet.  I set up a Macy's registry and linked it with the My Registry website without even getting up from the kitchen table. Amazing.  I think that it made it enjoyable.   I did decide to go with the "My Registry" website because I could pick and choose from a lot of different places and they all go to one main registry.  I like that a lot better than trying to find EVERYTHING at two stores.  

As far as the registry goes -- does anyone have any suggestions/things the wish they had registered for but they didn't? I am wanting to put some small home decor items on my list, fine china, and don't need a ton of kitchen/bar/glasses.  But then again maybe we should replace some things.  I'm just trying to really streamline this into stuff we really need and also want.  

I was agonizing over a china pattern for what seemed like forever but finally settled on Kate Spade Parker Place.  I really am into black and white and think it will allow me to just change out some salad and app plates later on if I feel bored with it or need a change. It's really hard to see in the pic but the accent color is mint for this set.    

We also made a cash fund because Matt cannot stop talking about wanting a Big Green Egg for the back yard to grill with.  

Even though our event is small it's exciting to think that people love you enough to get you a few nice things for the house.  

~the engaged gal~

Wedding Wednesday

I feel like after a month at the new job and coming up on our 6 month marker in June I should really get on top of some wedding items.  As small as our celebration is I am trying not to get behind on anything.  Again -- prior brides how did you do it all? 

Last weekend I finally reached out to a local florist recommended by a friend of mine that used her for her wedding.  I love how people are now requesting some Pinterest images for your inspiration. It's SO much easier for me to send a picture for an idea of what I want to visually guide her.  And then tell her to try to do a more cost effective version if she can.  I've been pleasantly surprised at all the winter wedding inspiration I have found -- even though I am hoping for one of those December days in the 60's...

//source - revel//

//photo source//

//photo from alexa n events and will source bouquet//

As far as registering...we need to be thinking of that. I think I'm going to do that new-fangled online registry where you can link up a ton of stores so that I can have a more eccelctic and gathered collection of home items.  Have any of you used My Registry? 

As far as a honeymoon -- that's going to happen way later since we are paying for our own wedding. However, since we will be off to Scotland to celebrate with 3 Putt's family just after Christmas we will be taking about two days for ourselves and staying in London before heading up.   If any of you have any recommendations for the quickest trip ever please send them over! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Wedding Wednesday {dress shopping}

Well folks we pretty much have sorted out all venue-related issues and stresses regarding our ceremony and dinner.  Everything has turned out quite lovely and within budget.  These are all good things.  Now that those things are worked out and I have some extra time on my hands I have been stressing a bit a lot about finding a dress.  I am determined to stick to our budget and I am really looking forward to my big appointment the early part of April with the fam but there are just SO many dresses out there and SO many different options and the weather can be SO iffy in December that I just don't quite know where to go.  Or I didn't until Monday. 

I hope my family doesn't murder me but I did talk to several close friends about their search and I did hear the advice to just go somewhere and look alone.  Try on a few things. See what is working for you.  Since I am not working I made a Monday appointment at Kelly's Closet in Candler Park.   A few things to preface this adventure -- I ultimately only went here because they were having a sample sale.  This small boutique carries a good amount of dresses but they are ultimately what I would consider fairly high end.  That being said definitely look around to see if you can find places that will have sample sales if you love a particular line.  You really can get a great deal on a dress that may just need to be cleaned or only need a small repair.  Typically the samples are bridal size 10 which is usually about a 6/8 dress size for most girls.  So even though I was just looking I wasn't about to put on a dress I could never afford.   

I have to say that all the great reviews I read about Kelly's Closet were true.  I met with Erin and she was completely respectful of my budget but I felt like she showed me just as much love and attentions as a girl hunting a $5k wedding dress.  They are incredibly low key and easy going.  It was a great place to go work out my "wedding dress" jitters.  She also took the time to give me a card with my top 3 dresses listed by designer, style and price -- a lot of places will not do this in order to prevent you from buying your dress somewhere else other than their shop.    I would absolutely recommend the team there for any bride in Atlanta.  

Ultimately I didn't find "the one" but it really was helpful for me to kind of go somewhere and try on different styles of dresses to see what kind of began to give me that "zing" feeling.   I think that if I had more wiggle room I would have found something I loved but because I was limited to samples in a certain price range I did not try on a ton of dresses.  We are going to a place in April that has a larger selection so I am feeling more hopeful and positive about the process.  If nothing else I'm glad that I run a lot so that I am not dealing with the "I need to lose 10 lbs" issue.  A serious pair of Spanx should fix the rest.  

Happy Wednesday, ladies! Any dress shopping advice? I would love to hear it! 

~the single gal~

Wedding Wednesday {guest list drama}

I have to admit I kind of scoffed at myself a little for even doing one of these posts.  And I actually don't expect most people to really care about my wedding.  That is super fair and I guess confirms I'm not as vain as I thought I was (although some may disagree).   Actually, since the wedding is so small and not super traditional there probably won't really be a ton of these.  Unless my mother calls again and makes me insane.  Like she did on Saturday.  So let's have some real fun and see if anyone is talking to me after this post.

This post is all about Guest List Drama.  

I had previously heard from some of my dear friends about Guest List Drama.   I thought it couldn't happen to me.  Guest List Drama is actually one of the things I have heard the most about from my friends that have already walked down the aisle. I can see why people elope.  They are truly the intelligent beings in our society.  They are probably the only ones that will survive nuclear warfare if the world ever ends. 

But seriously y'all -- I guess I just get super worked up because of a few things.  3 Putt and I are essentially paying for this party.  We are not into stress.  More people = more stress.  More people = more money.  (Obviously most of my good readers are following my storyline without that information as I know you to be very intelligent and respectable people.)  The one exception is that my father very kindly offered right away to give me some money towards my dress.  This is super sweet (read: Dad is SUPER excited that I won't be a spinster even if he did have to wait 30 years for me to marry) and a huge relief.  I am very lucky this is even on the table.  I feel very loved.  

Let me tell you what does NOT make me feel very loved: 

When you call me to ask WHY someone isn't going to be invited.  

When you call me just to mention to me and to make sure I know that so-and-so is just SO disappointed that they aren't going to be able to come. 

That you would assume that it was not incredibly difficult for us to not invite some people that maybe we would like to have there. 

If you really want to press all my buttons, you will suddenly say "Oh, well I will pay for that person to come!" 

So, you didn't feel kind enough to offer to pay for anything until I didn't invite someone that YOU would like to see.  To make the day something that YOU want.  Sure.  Thanks.  

...

Our entire guest list will only include 35 people.  This is pretty much immediate family and some friends that are essentially family.  3 Putt and I are actually included in this number so really only 33 people.   I actually want to challenge you right now to try to make a guest list of 33.  I just cannot believe in my heart that anyone in my family that I know and love would think that I am trying to be mean, that I don't care about them, that I don't love and appreciate them all because I just want to have a very small wedding.  And because this is essentially all the money I am willing to put into this celebration because hey -- I'd rather pay down my mortgage or build up my savings account for the future with my partner.  Because I am thinking about life past one day here.  I am thinking about a marriage. 

I'm trying not to let it get to me.  At the end of the day, I'm a grown ass woman and 3 Putt and I will make the wedding choices that are best for us.  I don't need anyone's permission.  I don't need to justify any of my choices to anyone.   But still it kinda makes me crabby.  

And now I've written the post and everyone will be like this: 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the not-so-single gal~