Friday, October 9, 2009

Less than 300 Days!

We're reaching the 3/4 mark soon..unbelievable!

I just thought I'd update that all of our paper products for DIY things (envelopes and cardstock) and our STD Magnets have arrived and right before our move back to VA. I can finally really get started on this DIY stuff. We also purchased the dial rods needed to make the crane disply..can't wait to get started on that.

That's all for now. We move Sunday to our new apartment in Hamilton..so exciting!


295 days. Wow!
On top is STD envelopes (green) and TY Card evelopes (white)..there's also Invite envelopes and 2 different kinds of cardstock (pink parchment and white)

STD Magents!! Love that you can actually read what's on the tree now =)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Almost 3 Months Since My Last Post..

It's hard to believe but we're getting closer and closer. Just a few days over 10 months and our wedding day will be here!

Since my last post we've been busy, but not really booking much else. I figured out what all was needed for DIY things by researching and pricing everything to the best of my ability. I have the total (including stamps) to under $500. I'm pretty happy about that since it includes Invitations, Save the Dates, Thank You Cards, Escort Cards (chinese take out boxes), table runners, table numbers, programs, and more. Can't be that, or at least I don't think you can. I'll be making a few of those purchases later today.

We've been making our dj payments digilantly and have now been to 2 Bridal Shows..we enjoyed both of them. Getting ideas and trying to win prizes we probably have no chance of winning. Haha!

I have only a few more addresses to collect too. Josh just needs to get me the list he has at his locker at work. This is so exiting to me..a long journey to collect them all, haha!

The cranes are nearly done..I have about 16 to go and then I can begin on the crane display. I can't wait to see how it turns out. We're thinking it'll be about 8 ft wide and 6ft long. I just can't wait to see the finished project. =)

As far as a honeymoon we went to a travel agent last week, but since have decided to hold out on the extravagent vacation. We decided we're going to stay locally the night of the wedding, go to Pittsburgh the next night, stay there, and then head up to Erie, PA for a week or so. We love it up there so I think it'll be really really nice. It's cheaper for now too.

Our plan now is..
1yr anni...Mexico or Carribbean
5yr anni...Hawaii
10yr anni...France

Things could change, but I do hope we can stick to that.

Sadly I have lost one of my bridesmaids and Josh has gained a groomsman. The former bm will still be at the wedding though. I do wish she could be by my side though. My MOH is now my FSIL, Aleece. I'm just loving that. =)

Well I think that's about all I'll try and update more often.

308 days.
I can't believe that!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

I Don't Like Being Lied To, But...

So I haven't updated in quite awhile, but we've been quite busy.

2 days ago in the mail I recieved our permit for the Ceremony Location we wanted. I.E. the title of this blog. The rude woman I had on the phone obviously lied to me. I'm so glad we stuck for it and went with it anyways. All they could do was tell us no, but they didn't. We have a permit for 330pm-530pm on Mammoth Island for July 31, 2010. So excited! I just know it's going to be beautiful with the white chairs and petals lining the isle. Nothing more, nothing less. Very simple and natural. =)

I called our DJ yesterday and made sure he got our deposit and we were "solid" in booking. We are. =) Set up to make easy payments for the next 11 months, so we're not taking it all out at once. It makes things a lot nicer.

I finally got ahold of the friend I made in Accounting 2 semesters ago who does wedding videography. He sent me a sample in the mail and I must say I was blown away. I knew he was good, but I had no idea how professional he was! He's giving me a great deal too! =) I can't wait to have him there with us on our wedding day! His style is just perfect! And since we were orginally going to forgo a professinal videographer, I'm very excited! =)

We finally figured out what we are going to do for our centerpieces. Even better it was Josh's brilliant idea. Each table will be different. We were gallivanting around Goodwill one day and saw a bunch of different vases, bowls, hurricane vases, and we decided that we would just do different ones for each table. I did a drawing of what the tables will look like (I have to upload it yet). Each table will have white tissue paper balls hanging fromt he ceiling at different heights from fishing line (so they look like they are floating)..above vision line..and then the table cloths will be white & I'm going to make Emerald Green table runners. Each centerpiece will be different in shape/design, but will include floating candles or tealights, silk wedding flowers, silk white petals, and water in one way or another.

We bought 15 "centerpieces" that day and got 5 more on another day..8 to go =)

One of the nifty "centerpieces" we found, stuff flowers inside & put water on top: I just love it =)

Josh had this great idea to turn some vases upside down to give them a completely different look

A few more of the "centerpieces" we got

On another note I have 40% of the cranes done now! 400 down. 600 to go. Almost 1/2 way there! =)

I ordered the new Save The Date magnets are ordered and on there way. I had such a dumb moment when ordering them. I'm so glad I didn't order the night was going to. I was thinking I'd need 200+, but WHY would I need THAT much?! Because... I was thinking I would need one for every guest. Oh man, did I feel dumb. I only need one for every household, so that brought me down to less than 100. That number is ALOT better.'




The other day at work, I waited on this elderly couple for the second time in one week. Each time wanting to hear more about the wedding. Well the woman comes out and tells me that a close friend of theirs has a limo bus. Holds 24 people and is equipped with a bar inside. She said he doesn't do too many weddings or events unless for friends/family, but this bus was brand new a year ago. So they're going to get me information on it. The woman then leans over and whispers for some unknown reason (no one was around) that "We can probably get you deal ;)" Haha it was the cutest thing. So kind of excited about that, because we were probably going to for go the limo. Hmm...=)

Yesterday, I worked on the wedding calendar my grandma got me (just a pocket one) and our address book, only about 30 more addresses to get. Not too bad. I also got out the yellow book and looked at different Caterer's to see if I could find anything different. Josh and I decided we're going to get on booking a Caterer as soon as we get back from the beach this weekend.

I think I'm going to call the bakery today to set up a tasting as well as work on the bridesmaid newsletters I'm doing and some invitation/program wording.

So as you can see we've been busy, busy, busy. Josh and I went out the reception hall the other day and talked about where certain tables will go. We're both just so excited. Everything's coming together already. =)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Getting This Wedding Underway

My oh my! Josh and I have been very busy with wedding stuff.

I'm finally getting better with the idea of July 31, 2010. As Josh pointed out, it's the end of the month and very rememberable. =)

On Tuesday I did some researching, trying to find the vendors we want to check out. Josh's dad had suggested we look at R&R entertainment, so I did. This is the second time I've been met with..The date is booked. So no R&R. As I searched I came across a DJ I hadn't seen before. Entertainment Tonight. It's a family company who offer DJing, Photography, and Videography. Their website was quite impressive and even better, they we're available for our date. I got a quote for their "Gold Package" at $849 which includes 5 hours of service, Master of Ceremonies, Dance Floor Lighting, and a Pre-wedding consultation. I then called and talked to them briefly and asked them if they charged a traveling fee. The response I got was quite amusing, "Where are you at?" "Scottdale." "Oh no, we'd rather travel there rather than Pittsburgh any day!" Haha! I let them then know I'd be by in the next two days with my fiance to check them out.

So Thursday came and Josh and I decided we wanted to get a few things done, wedding related, before we left to come back down to WV. We got on The Knot and looked around a few cakes since we were going to take a look at the new bakery in town. Josh pretty much designed the cake from there then. I was so proud. Here's what we came up with...

This design with emerald green and tea rose pink stripes instead

This style of cake (shape & size)

With flowers inbetween the tiers like this (unsure what kind of flowers just yet though)

So after figuring out excactly what we wanted, or near it anyway we walked to the bakery, One Good Cookie. I was excited when they opened up because it's the only local bakery that specializes in wedding cakes. We walked in and talked to Kim, the one who will be doing the cake. After a small consultation and her telling us of her background (25+ years in wedding cakes) she let us know that they were opening the other side of the store for brides only. Now all we need to do is figure out when we'll be up there and schedule a tasting with her to make sure it's where we want to get our cake from. She charges $1.60 flat per slice and $1.80 if there is a filling. Not bad. Her delivery/set up fee is then only $25.

From there we then decided after while that we were going to talk to this DJ and see if he was any good. It's about a 45 minute drive, which didn't seem long at all. The business is set up in house kind of and it was very "homey" feeling. We both really liked that. In our "meeting" we got to sit on this really comfy couch too, it was really nice. We let him know right off the bat that we were musically inclined (I'm a dancer and Josh plays guitar), so he didn't "dumb" down any of the terminology, which was great. He was very energetic and passionate about his work, that was obvious. From a coupon I had then took us down to $799 for the Gold Package. We then asked him if he could add more time and he said normally it's $75/half hour but he'd do 6 hours for $849. Sweet! After talking for awhile longer he began telling us about the uplights they now offer to set up around your reception venue and put a "colored" light up on the wall, creating a different feel to the room. Which is suppose to be $300. This is what I've been looking into getting for our fantastic head table display we're doing. After explaining to him that I'd only need 2 he told us that it'd be no problem to throw them in the car and since it's only 2 he'd include them in the $849. Can't beat that! I'm really excited about this guy. We let him know too that we're non traditional and I think he's even going to do some beat mixing towards the end of the night (more of cluby djing style that blends from one song to another)...Josh and I's favorite. We're really excited about this. Can't wait to send in our deposit. I should do that tomorrow.

So we're getting more and more done. Which I couldn't be happier about. Josh says I was "glowing" all day. Which I'm sure I was.

The guest list is pretty much finalized now too. Woot!

Oh and in the past 2 1/2 days I've folded 137 cranes! =O Yay! Over 20% done with the 1000 goal.

This is only 122 of them..I folded 15 more later

Oo and on a Non Wedding Related (NWR) topic: The Pens won the Stanely Cup! =D Woot! Pittsburgh = The City of Champions! 2 in 1 year..Yeahhhh baby! =)

Monday, June 8, 2009

Emotional Rollercoaster

We'll go in chronological order here:

Yesterday on our way home we decided to stop at Mammoth Park (our ceremony location) to take some pictures and figure out a few things.

The island we're hoping to be married on =)



The "natural arch" we plan to decorate with a few of our wedding flowers

The tree we're hoping to be married under =)


The tree we hope to be married under





When we got home I saw that the rest of the origami paper we had ordered (all white 900 sheets) had arrived! So exciting! I've folded 6 cranes today so far.


All white origami paper: harder to find than you think

So I was in a VERY good mood today. Working on updating our website with the pictures of the ceremony location when Aleece calls me. I have been asking Josh to book the Firemen's Club for months now and he finally called last Tuesday. He then saw the guy he left a message for and he said his number had been cut off in the number he had left. Aleece was out at the club today and asked to look at the books. The 24th is booked and NOT by us. =( I was/am? so upset. She let me know then that the 3rd and 31st are open. Well the 3rd is a holiday weekend and the 31st hmm? I just don't know.

I contacted Josh via text and I don't think he realizes how upset I am, though he is too. We both are unable to think of another location for the price or that can accomodate the amount of guests we are inviting so...alas, reluctantly we are moving the date to the 31st.

July 31st, 2010.
It's going to take a bit to get used to.

It's just a day though and though July 24, 2010 was VERY special to us, it's OUR WEDDING DAY and whatever day it is will be just as special<3>

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Behind the Scenes

Most of what Josh and I have been working on the wedding in the past week or so have been the "behind the scenes" work that usually goes unnoticed. Between the both of us we've been avidly working on our guestlist finalizations and collecting address/phone numbers and names of significant others we are unsure of. I recently gave my mom a list of people to work on that she could get for us and we need to give Josh's mom hers, but besides that I think we have at least 75-80% of the address book I've created done.

The address book

This past Friday before driving up to PA I stopped at the mailbox, anxious to see if our Save The Dates had arrived. They did! I just love them too! I need to make some minor adjustments for our last/final batch (make the font bigger and wording carved into the tree more visible), but the quality is better than I actually thought they were going to be. Can't wait to order the rest! =)

This is a poor quality picture (from my phone), but here they are!

Yesterday, I was so proud of Josh. After bugging him constantly about calling the club to book the reception hall and him forgetting, he finally did! He left a voice mail with the person we need to book it with so we're just waiting for him to return his call. I can't wait for that to be booked. I'm just so worried that being a summer wedding and a pretty popular date it could possibly be booked if we don't jump on it now. I'll feel so much better about it once it is. I really hope he calls him back soon.

Other than that we really haven't "worked" on too much. We've talked about the wedding though and discussed more ideas. Oh, and we did order the rest of the origami paper I'll be needing to fold the 1000 cranes for the head table display. =) 100 down 900 to go. Haha!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

I <3 Flea Markets

Saturday (the day after Josh graduated) we headed back to our apartment to get ready and head out for the night. Mom, dad, Gram, and Homer had decided to stop at the Flea Market down the road from us and we opted to stop in too. I had already found 1 vase/bowl for our cookie buffet (for the custom made fortune cookies we are having), so we kept our eyes open for more. I was looking at one at a table listed for $2 and as I started to walk away the woman said she'd take half. So we picked another one up for $1. Along the way we found one more we really liked and got it for just $2.

The second $1 vase we've purchased =)

The $2 bowl =)

What I love about that Flea Market is that it's always different, the seller's are always changing and it's not repeatitive like most are nowadays. Yay for having a Flea Market less than 3 minutes away! =)

Also yesterday Josh and I went and saw Night at the Museum and ate at Primanti Brothers (our unofficial 2 1/2 yr date =P). Afterwards we went to the mall and walked around a little bit. I saw this shirt at Spencers and I just love it. Since it's of course "non-traditional." I'm thinking I could maybe have it made at my old work place for the Bachelorette Party? Haha.

This would be really easy for them to duplicate at Scott Electric

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Oh What a Bargain! =)

As most of you know I got my wedding dress back in February 2007. Yes I bought it wayyy early, but it was $50, beautiful, and fit me near perfectly. I've since lost weight and it fits more perfect than it did before now.

I've been searching high and low for a veil, headpiece, shoes, and jewelry that I like. The shoes have been the hardest. I haven't found even one pair I was really happy with and just wanted to buy right away.

Yesterday, I was visiting my mom and dad in PA when my mother tells me she just bought 4 pairs of heels at Payless for $32 the other day. Holy cow. She's not one to wear heels so I just had to see. The first pair she showed me my mouth just dropped. I've been looking for a wedding shoe for soooo long and have seen nothing I really liked. I don't know why but I just love these and she paid $8 for them. So they are now my "something borrowed." =)



Now as to that tradition of "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue," this is what I have so far:

Something Old: ???
Something New: My Dress of Course! =)
Something Borrowed: Mom's Shoes
Something Blue: I don't want to do the "typical" garter so I'm thinking of stealing this idea one knottie had

This was the bride's new intials..I just think it's a cute fun little detail and non traditional so this is a definite possibly, though I'm still open to ideas

I'm at a loss of what to do for Something Old though. I've tried to find an older veil of friends and or family members, but I have yet to find anything I like. Maybe I'm too picky? Hehe.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Fixed the Save The Date =)


Thanks to the help of some girls on The Knot (wedding website I frequent) I found a better font for the "carving" of the tree on dafont.com. Woot! From there in only took about 15 minutes to complete and I decided to add the date to the tree as well. I'm really happy with how it turned out. =)


Okay so I played around with it just a little bit more and got it to the fit the demensions needed to upload it on VistaPrint. I've now ordered 50 magnets. I started out getting 25 and was only paying $5 for shipping and then at then end of the order they offered another 25 for only $5 more. Which if I would have orginally just got 50 it would have been $15 with shipping. So I saved $5. Not too bad. Especially because the before sale price is $22 for 25! Yay for a good deal. I can now keep the image saved on the site and when they do promotions like this order to save so much more money and since the wedding is over a year away I don't need them all at once. Woot for bargain shopping! ;)

The finished product: I had to add more around the edges so no wording or hearts get cut off when they are made.

Monday, May 18, 2009

The 1st of Many Posts in the Next 14+ Months...

I'm going to try and keep up with this as much as I possibly can. I want to share with the wedding party and some family as well as friends what's going on to make this wedding happen. =)

Well I belive I accomplished a few things wedding related today. That's always a plus. =)

I called Mammoth Park today (are #1 Ceremony Location Choice). It was quite stressful and I'm sort of worried we might not be able to get married where we had wanted to.

At Mammoth there is a "penninsula" on the lake and we were hoping to be married there surrounded by the water and the gorgeousness of the lake/park.

A quick drawing on paint of the ceremony location we want

1. I called the number they have listed for questions and was greeted by a very kind/friendly woman who informed me that I wouldn't be able to send in for the "special" permit until the 1st of July, but the date would definitely be available. I then started to ask her some other questions of which she wasn't sure of the answer and told me to call back after 2pm, when the reservationist would be back from her lunch.

2. 2pm rolled around and I picked up and dialed the phone. The nice woman answered the phone again and told me I would have to hold a few minutes because the reservationist was on the other line. Next thing I know I'm being gretted by a very rude and abrupt woman. "Hello." Not how can I help you or anything! I waited for her to say something else and she didn't. I then explained why I was calling and she asked me when the wedding was and I told her July 2010. She then cut me off before I even got to explain anything and was like "I can't do anything for you, you don't book until at the most a year before here." So I then had to explain that I knew all of this already because I had talked to the "nice" woman. "Okay? So what do you want?" You'd really think she could have been nicer.

3. The place we wanted to get married. "The Penninsula" is according to her (and I have half the mind to not believe her) off limits for weddings and there are only 2 places you can be married at.

Now I was quite upset and didn't even think about calling back to complain so I plan to do that tomorrow. There is no reason to be THAT rude. I mean yes, people have bad days, but wow. I later found on the permit "application" a place for "Site Requests" in the park and "Special Requests." So we we are still going to try for the pennisula and if we get denied we still have year+ to continue the search for another "perfect" location. I do really hope this all works out though.

Throughout the day then I worked on our design for the Save the Dates we're going to be sending out. I plan to have them made into small magnets (maybe business card sized). I'm still not happy with the font on the tree and I'm currently looking for font that looks "carved," but it's "in the making" still. I really like them though, they designed theirselves practically. I started with picture, added the calendar, found the hearts, changed the colors to ours, and it just took off from there. Hopefully they'll come out as nice as I'm hoping for. I'll probably order them through Vista print in increments so that I can maybe just get them for shipping costs. Woot woot!

Here it is! =)

On another note I've made progress with the origami cranes I'm doing for the reception head table decoration. I have 12 more green ones to do and I'll have the 76 I need to make my design. Then all I need is 924 white ones! Haha! I'm behind on my "2 a day" I was trying for, but I'll catch up. Right now I'll have to do 2.13889 in order to finish by the day of the wedding. It's nice when we go on trips though I fold them like a maniac in the car. Haha! I better order the white paper here soon too.If you're confused click on the picture at the top left of the blog and it will bring up our wedding website. I explain what they are and what I'm doing with them on there.

My 1st Crane

Josh's 1st & only completed Crane ;)

They're going to hang kind of like this

The design for the cranes

Just some of the cranes I have done in the glass bowl thing I bought at a flea market for $1 for the cookie buffet we're doing =)

I believe that's all for now. I'm hoping to also book the firemen's club this coming week. Josh said he would do that, so I guess we're on our way. =)