blandtobe's Green Wedding Blog - Wedding By Color

Wedding Card... - ...from President Obama and the First Lady

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:22:00 PST

Here is a photo of the wedding card that we received from President Obama and the First Lady....This will be a great keepsake. Everyone keeps telling us we need to get it framed! .

Wedding Photography - Reception

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:29:00 PST

These photos were all taken at the Harper Center where we had our reception

Wedding Photography - Family & Friends Shots

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:09:00 PST

Here are the after the ceremony family shots .

Wedding Photography - Ceremony Shots

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:53:00 PST

Here are some from the ceremony! .

Wedding Photography - More shots

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:38:00 PST

Here are some more of the pro shots taken before the wedding..... .

Wedding Photography - Wedding Photos

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:32:00 PST

Here are some more of the pro shots! what do you think? which is your fave? The one with the boys and the blackberry is HILARIOUS (in my opinion) .

Bland To Be... - ...is now Mrs. B

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:19:00 PST

Here are some photos I just got from the photography as a sneak peek of our big day...what do you think? PS -- THE DAY WAS AMAZING!!!! .

You have to watch this.. - ....the laughing Bride

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:15:00 PST

oh man I hope no one makes me laugh on the 24th -- once I get going I can't stop......check out this video!! .

Countdown - Only 10 days to go!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:56:00 PST

holy crikies.....only 10 days to go now til the big day and I am so ready. My friends from England arrive tonight and my friend from Tennessee on Friday. The bachelorette party is on Saturday!!!! I probably won't be making too many more posts now.....but I will be sure to post pics after though!!!! .

Unique Wedding - Vampires vow till death do us part at Ohio wedding

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:10:00 PST

Jack Holsinger and his bride, Connie Spitznagel, are seen in an October 3 photo (at left), in a Halloween-themed wedding at the Rockin'-R-Ranch in Columbia Township, Ohio, southwest of Cleveland. COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio -- An Ohio bride and ghoul have vowed to love each other and haunt and howl at the moon together at a Halloween-themed wedding. Sixty-one-year-old Jack Holsinger and 44-year-old Connie Spitznagel were both made up as pale-faced vampires for their scare-emoney Saturday night at a haunted house near Cleveland. The two chose the location because it's operated by the same people who own a campground where the couple met. Holsinger arrived in a coffin inside a hearse, and the coffin was carried to the altar by six pallbearers. Minister Greg Kopp was dressed as Jason in the "Friday the 13th' movies. After the vows were exchanged, he ordered Holsinger not to kiss his new bride but instead to bite her on the neck. .

Wedding Photography - 8 Tips to Getting the Wedding Photos You Want

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:56:00 PST

From theKnot.com: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Tips to Getting the Wedding Photos You Want Don't be camera-shy. Here's everything you need to get great wedding photos. Hire for Style It's easy to obsess over wedding photography price points and packages, but do yourselves a favor and start your research process by nailing down a wedding photography style first. There are countless types to choose from -- from the more traditional, clean, straight-on shots to creative angles and inventive backdrops (think: garage door with chipped paint) and knowing the aesthetic you're after from the beginning will undoubtedly help you find a photographer you love for all the right reasons. Can't find a photographer you like in your budget? Call one you love and ask them to recommend a less-experienced shooter (maybe one of their assistants) with a similar style. Streamline the Family Photos Don't waste time trying to get every last combo of grandparents, siblings, and cousins. Invariably your little nephews will run off, his grandmother will get tired of waiting, and everyone will end up frustrated. Instead, put together a short(!) list of the must-have family shots you want (like the two of you with your immediate families) and then take one big family photo with everyone in it. Do it this way and you not only buy yourselves more time at the reception, you also free up your photographer to capture the more candid shots from the day. Don't Sweat the Little Things While it's totally fine to show your photographer the types of shots you like, it's even more important that you're flexible the day-of. So if it rains and you can't get that sunny shot of you in a field, grab big umbrellas and a pair of bright yellow rain boots and trust your photographer to find the right shot. Same goes for your schedule: If you're stuck in traffic between the ceremony and reception and don't have time to hit up all your favorite city sites with your bridal party, pick a few favorites and move on. Trust your photographer to keep you on-schedule, to frame the shots, and to know what will look best -- remember, that's why you hired them! Choose Your Hues Most likely, your photographer will be shooting with digital film, but if you love the look of black-and-white photos, it's a good idea to let them know that ahead of time. In other words, don't just assume that because the photos look great in color, they'll translate to black-and-white in the same way. Let your photographer know your color preference, and that way they can be sure the lighting and camera settings ensure a sharp, classic product. Get Engagement Photos Taken We know engagement photos are an extra cost, but scheduling an engagement photo shoot is well worth the money. Why? Besides the fact that you'll get gorgeous engagement photos to share with friends and family, you and your fiance will feel so much more comfortable having a camera pointed at you on your wedding day if you've already been through it. That confidence will show through in your wedding photos, so it's essential that you feel comfortable with your photographer. Cover Your Bases Don't get carried away, but providing your photographer with a top-five list of poses or moments you want is a good way to guarantee you get the photos you're hoping for. Bring in examples that you find online, or point out samples that they've already taken at other weddings. A couple must-haves we love? The just-after-the-recessional shot (when you're alone and married for the first time!); Mom and Dad at the ceremony (looking proud); and a large overall shot of your reception (to capture the feeling of the evening) are all good ideas. That said, it's still important to trust your photographer to know what will look right for you. Add a Photo Booth It's going to be virtually impossible to get a photo with every guest -- or even to guarantee that your photographer will -- so renting a photo booth is the perfect solution. Guests can let their personality shine, especially if you set up a visually interesting backdrop and provide quirky props (funny hats, fake mustaches, mini chalkboards for writing funny messages). The result is guaranteed to make a great addition to your guest book or wedding album. Schedule a Day-After Shoot Okay, not as essential as, say, engagement photos, but a great idea if you're worried about seeing enough of your guests. Instead of taking time the morning-of or during cocktail hour, schedule a session for the next day -- or even a week after -- to snap some couple shots. Yep, you read that right: Get back in the wedding dress (when you're bound to be calmer) and shoot the fun stuff so that you're not bogged down by it on the day-of. Do it this way and you'll also give your photographer time to shoot the candid moments of the day. .

DIY - Map from Church to Reception

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:44:00 PST

Here is the map I put together for the guests so they can find their way to the reception. We are having the wedding in Iowa and the reception in Nebraska -- right over the river. But a lot of the guests are not familiar with the Creighton campus. So to help them out I made this and the ushers/usherette will hand them out as the guests are leaving. What do you think? Anyone else making a map for your guests? .

Countdown - WOW OH WOW

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:13:00 PST

Holy crikies -- can you believe it -- only 18 days til the big day!!! And surprisingly still not nervous or freaking out -- what's up with that? Everyone keeps telling me I should be a bag of nerves right now..... Are any of you other 10.24 brides getting nervous yet? .

Rehearsal - Invitations for the Rehearsal

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:48:00 PST

I made this little invite to include with the rehearsal dinner invitations. I thought it would be a cute little way of letting the wedding party know of the time of the rehearsal. What do you think? .

Asking for some prayers... - ...for my little buddy Neil

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:40:00 PST

Saturday I got an instant message from one of my best friends with some scary news. Her middle son -- who is kinda like a nephew to me -- Neil was not feeling well. He had a fever of 103, was dizzy, lethargic and just not feeling well. They live in the UK. So she called the emergency hotline and waited for the doctors to call her back. When they did they told her to get him to the hospital. They have diagnosed him with Meningitis. Since getting there on Saturday afternoon, they have been able to get his fever down, but they are still continuing to pump him full of antibiotics. His dad says he is still very pale but is at least asking him to check his farm on Facebook -- so that is promising :) Please keep Neil in your thoughts and prayers right now!!!! *****UPDATE****** Tracy (his mom) called me this morning...he has viral meningitis. This is not the contagious one (bonus) and it is not as bad as bacterial meningitis (another bonus). His temp is back down and seems to be responding to meds. He says he will be here on the 14th!! The whole family is to fly to the States for my wedding! They are supposed to leave the UK 2 weeks from tomorrow.......so fingers are crossed!!! *****NEW UPDATE - 9/29****** I am worried out of my mind....Neil was sent home from the hospital cuz they needed the bed -- he is back this morning because he can't walk.....his brain isn't communicating with his legs to tell them what to do! .

Anniversary - Wow -- 1 YEAR!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:28:00 PST

I can't hardly believe it ... it was in September of 2008 that I started this blog. So a year later -- here we are at just 29 more days til my wedding. WOW!!!! Where has the time gone??? .

NWR - Need to smile??? - Had to share this video -- cracked me up!!!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:34:00 PST

Need something to make you smile? Watch this video! .

NWR - Old Dogs Sneek Peek tonight!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:30:00 PST

Tonight Mike and I have passes to see the sneek peek of Old Dogs due out in theaters at Thanksgiving. The trailer alone had me rolling in the aisles. This could be another embarrassing night at the theater for Mike...lol...check out the trailer below -- what do you think???? .

Ask a Question - Anyone else making cream cheese mints?

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:14:00 PST

So is anyone else going to make cream cheese mints for their reception? My mom love LOVE loves these things. We bought 5 different flavorings (cheesecake, raspberry, mint, and I cannot remember the other 2) and have 4-5 different molds (leaf, heart, rose, bells, turtle). The plan is to have some girls meet up at my house one evening and knock these babies out! They are really tasty....anyone else making any? Here is the recipe too: WEDDING CREAM MINTS 1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 3 cups powdered sugar Flavoring & food coloring Mix cheese, flavoring, coloring slowly add sugar finally knead in with fingers. Roll into small balls then into (granulated) sugar. Press into mold and pop out. Refrigerate. These freeze nicely. 50 to 75 mints. Plan 2 mints per person. 2/3 people invited will come to a wedding. .

Ask a Question - What do you think about sleeping in separate beds?

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:48:00 PST

I got this article from OurWeddingDay.com blog and thought I would share to get your opinions on the matter: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The "Two Beds" Rule Finds More Support! Last week we told you about an article in the British Mail newspaper that advocated for couples to sleep in separate beds. Well, that article seemed to get some Americans considering the idea as well: Over at the Huffington Post this week, Sophie Keller shares her "9 Reasons to Sleep Separately." She writes, "Even as newlyweds, my husband and I slept separately due to incompatible sleep habits. He needs only 5 hours of sleep, is up quite a bit through the night and snores very loudly. I, on the other hand, am a very light and quiet sleeper and need 8 hours of rest. With our differences we knew that there was a potentially huge problem very early on in our relationship and even though it took us time to get used to it, we decided that sleeping apart was the best long-term solution. Most people believe that if you have separate rooms it must mean that you are probably not having sex. But that, from my experience, is absolutely not true at all. Sleeping separately did not take the passion out of the relationship. On the contrary, I actually think that it quite possibly enhanced it." Once again, we don't think there's any "one solution" for everybody to have a happy marriage. Obviously, different people have different needs and different things that make them happy. Still, like we said last week, it's always interesting to consider different ways to keep ourselves -- and our spouses -- happy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So ladies -- what do you think? Would you sleep in separate beds? I can honestly say that Mike is a terrible snorer and he flips over in his sleep like a fish out of water -- he nearly bounces me out of the bed....but I cannot sleep if he isn't there in bed with me....so I don't think this would work for us -- but what about you??? .

Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard... - ... Got Married!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:41:00 PST

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie/The Postal Service frontman) & Zooey Deschanel (indie movie queen/She & Him frontwoman) finally got married in Washington State.

Ask a Question - How are you doing your nails for your wedding?

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:51:00 PST

I had the acrylic nails when I was in High School and when it came time to remove them, it really tore up my natural nails. To the point of being extremely painful to even touch. So I am leery about getting the acrylics put on for my wedding day. I have been keeping my natural nails filed to a good length and putting nail strengthener on them. So I am hoping to just have them painted with a french manicure and not go through the hassle of acyrlics. I always do a french manicure on my toes and Mike really likes the look... What are you doing? Are you going with your natural nails or acrylic nails? What color are you going to paint them? .

Mother of the Bride - My Mom had her first fitting last night!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:38:00 PST

Mom went for her first fitting last night for her Mother of the Bride Dress. I think she looks amazing. I included a photo of the whole dress with jacket -- all pinned up. And a close up of the embroidery and beading. The color is PERFECT on her!!! What do you ladies think? .

Groomsman Gifts - Mike made his decision!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:30:00 PST

Mike finally made his decision on what to get his groomsmen! For the four smokers he is getting them a Polished Chrome Zippo Blu Butane lighters with gift kit (Can of Butane and extra flints). For my brother who doesn't smoke - he is getting him the new Madden Playstation game! .

Mike's Bachelor Party... - ....is this weekend!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:30:00 PST

Mike is having his bachelor party on Saturday night. He had told his best man that he didn't want a bachelor party. That he didn't need a "last hoorah" but Mark really wanted to have one for him. It won't be a typical bachelor party though. The guys are gonna meet up at a local BBQ restaurant for dinner and then head over to Fort Crook Billiards to shoot some pool and watch the Huskers play on Pay-Per-View. I think he will have a good time. Plus it is a good opportunity for all the groomsman to get to know each other and bond a little bit. .

Market Place - Alfred Angelo Style 6546 Bridesmaid Dress for Sale

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:44:00 PST

My soon to be sister-in-law was recently asked to be in a wedding. Then shortly after all the bridesmaids purchased their dresses, the wedding was called off. So now Aleigh has an Alfred Angelo, size 6 bridesmaid dress that she needs to sell. The color is called tealness. Style 6546 Satin Embroidery, Beading Dropped Waistline, Sweep Train Trim is white She is a college student and could definitely use the money that she had spent on this dress! She is asking $150 OBO. The dress has never been worn. The photos Aleigh took last night don't show the true beauty of the dress. I have attached a photo of the dress from the Alfred Angelo site as well. If you are interested, please email me at butterflydreams2005@gmail.com Thanks so much!!! please crosspost if ya can!! .

Happy Fall

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:09:00 PST

I just wanted to send a HAPPY FALL greeting out to everyone. Fall will officially be here at 4:19pm! I cannot wait -- FALL IS MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SEASON!!! I love getting up in the morning and stepping outside to the crisp fresh air. AHHHH it is just heavenly! .

Wedding Cake - 4 Classic Wedding Cake Myths -- Busted!

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:48:00 PST

I got this from the WeddingChannel.com and thought I would share! Four things you'll want to know before you book your baker! You Can Never Be Too Sweet. The most pliable of icings (fondant, marzipan, gum paste) are made that way with tons and tons of sugar. Of course, we've got as sweet a tooth as the next bride, but too much of a good thing is -- too much of a good thing. Counter your fondant masterpiece with fresh flowers instead of mini marzipan blooms and choose a tart fruit filling to cut through the sweetness. Does looking at your cake make your teeth hurt? Serve your caramelized creation with a side of fresh berry coulis. This tangy puree of fresh fruit (we especially like raspberry) will balance out the sweetness of even the most sugary of desserts. It's Not Enough To Serve Wedding Cake As Dessert. Okay, so some brides have wedding cake AND berries AND sorbet AND a dessert table AND a groom's cake. More power to them. And their dentists. Still, you shouldn't feel like all these delectables are mandatory for your wedding. Your mother is right -- a delicious wedding cake is far and away enough dessert to offer your guests. If you really, really want to, you can satisfy sweet teeth without overburdening bellies with a small truffle, chocolate kiss, tiny biscotti or chocolate-dipped fortune cookie. Yum! It's Cheaper To Make Your Own Cake. Wedding cakes can be expensive to buy, but just add up the cost of ingredients, tools and equipment, not to mention the time spent researching, baking and making those little tiny marzipan cabbage roses -- you've got a costly and labor-intensive project on your hands. There are trade-offs, even if you are a professional-level baker. Besides, we're guessing you have more tasks on your hands than time to bake your cake. Simple Cakes Are Less Expensive Than Elaborate Cakes. We know, we know. In light of your budget, you opt for the cake with the cleanest lines imaginable. Well, guess what? You might as well go for over-the-moon decorations. The reason: cake designers are able to hide little, sugary imperfections behind swags, rosettes and fleur-de-lis. Your extraordinarily simple cake has to be virtually flawless. An attribute for which your cake designer will surely make you pay. .

Ask a Question - Is anyone else taking dance classes?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:47:00 PST

Mike and I had our 2nd ballroom dance class last night. The first night we learned the basic step of the foxtrot and last night we added some more steps. The class is great. After night one Mike didn't think we would be able to dance together -- we were all over each other's feet. But last night the teacher called us out and had people watch us cuz we had the steps down so well. He also said that it is great to see a couple so comfortable with dancing with each other that we could dance so close. We were the only couple who's bodies were actually touching. everyone else was standing way apart from their partner. So yeah us!!!! Anyone else taking dance classes with your soon to be??? .

A Wedding Gift... - ...arrived on our doorstep last night!

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:26:00 PST

Mike and I got home from our ballroom dancing class to find a HUGE Bed Bath and Beyond box sitting on our doorstep. We ripped the box open to find 2 gift wrapped packages inside. My parents informed us that WE ARE NOT TO OPEN THEM. lol But man I sure wanted to. They came from a friend in Tennessee who cannot attend the wedding. That is all I know. I tell you what -- I am like a kid at Christmas...I just want to shake those packages!! .