This is chirawan's Blue Wedding!

I wish it were April 2009 already.

Here are some pics of makeup styles I would enjoy on my wedding day. Take a peek. Tell me what you think. Save the pics for yourself. Whatever.

We scheduled engagement photos with our photographer for sunset June 8th at Ponce Inlet. Here are some pics we took of ourselves at that location last year.

We're going with Rev. Gary Davids with Orlandoceremony.com.

I think he's going to work very nicely.

Why Would We Do Such a Thing?
Perhaps our most daring move is the decision to cater our own wedding. The reception can easily become the most expensive part of wedding day. After talking with several caterers we found providing our own food and beverages will be in our best interest financially.

The Plan:
Our wedding includes a guest list of 50. Because it is our responsibility to feed our guests, we decided on a brunch reception beginning at 11:00am. We figure brunch will be the best way to cut food costs.

Who Will Serve our Guests?
The brunch will be set up buffet style with three tables: food, drink, alcoholic drink.
We will have a server/bartending standing behind the tables to make sure everyone can get their own food and he will pour their drinks. When it comes time for the champaign toast, he will walk to each table and make sure everyone has a full glass.

The Menu (to be decided):
We know we're going to get sandwiches from Sam's Club or a grocery store and place them on pretty trays, we're going to have hot tea for every table (tea party theme, kind of), we'll have trays with fruit, vegetables, salad, and cheese/crackers, wine, beer, and an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages.

Expect many more posts from me on this topic!

I bought my dress! I chose the one most of you recommended (see previous dress post). Thanks for everyone's help. I put the dress on again on Friday and knew it was right!

I know I want my hair down with a romantic flow to it.

I'll be wearing a full veil, so I'll want my hair to match. I'll probably wear some kind of sparkly headband too, but I really don't know yet.

I'll also probably dye it a full shade lighter with bright highlights. I actually plan to do that next time I go to the salon.

We are most definately filling the fountain in the Matiland Art Center chapel with dry Ice. We'll need at least 20lbs of it to last the entire ceremony. It costs $1.18/lb at Winn Dixie!

My mother informed me that my father would like me to wear a blusher veil. Until I tried one on, I thought they were old fashioned and really formal. I'm having an informal ceremony.

So, what do you think? Anyone else wearing a blusher?

KEVIN! DO NOT LOOK!!!!!!

******************************

I've been trying on some dresses and I found 3 that I love.They are all the same price..on sale until THIS SUNDAY! Help me decide, ladies!

I bought these items online for $25. Bride who sold them to me says they were never used. They appear to be in perfect condition. I'm pleased with the purchase.

It's a matching RB pillow, Guest Book & Pen.
The FG basket is not from the same collection, but matches nicely.

Yesterday marked one year before our wedding. I'm super excited! and for the first time..nervous about planning!

Today I got my planning binder all set up and organized. It's very pretty.

I decided to split it into 16 categories including everything from food and attire to receipts and a calendar. There's a place for guest response info., I included a bridesmaid section, and even created a "Kevin's Stuff" section. It rocks!!

Aside from that, we met with an officiant today and really like his ceremonies and feel that his personality compliments Kevin and me as a couple. We'll book him as soon as we can come up with the money. (We just put the deposit on our photog this weekend, so funds are limited.)

Also.. I filed my taxes and am happy to be getting some money back. It will go straight to the wedding fund!! Plus, next month the stimulus checks should come.

We're going with Jessica Danser with Essential Wedding Photography.

www.digitalweddingpics.com to see her work.

She was the best we could find for our price, and I think she does amazing work. It appears that she really tells the story of "the wedding," which is what we really want.

For some reason, I've been out of the wedding mood this week.
Last weekend mom and I tried on some dresses at David's Bridal. I'm not looking to buy yet, but it gave me a great idea of what I like/dislike.

Surprisingly, the dress I thought I loved looked like garbage on me. Yuck! Totally washed me out.

Anywho.. I also found one I really like but it costs $$$. I'd post pics, but Kevin might see.

I'm ready to go try on more dresses, but nobody wants to go with me. :-( BRidesmaids are busy when I have free time and mom lives 4 hours away.

Since David's doesn't seem to want me to save their pictures to my hard drive..these are styles I like from Alfred Angelo. I plan to go to their store here as soon as I can find someone to go with me.

It looks kind of sloppy, but I think it shows an idea of what I'm going for.

EDIT:
To those who asked, I did it in photoshop. I just resized the photos and stuck them all on one page. You could probably do the same thing in paint.

It's obviously not something that can be DIY. At least, not something I feel comfortable in tackling.

The first two are daffodil invitation samples in my colors! (i love them, but they're expensive!!)
The third is another daffodil invitation.

The fourth is the one I will most likely buy from Michaels and print myself.

I knew I wanted to do fan programs since I'm having an outdoor wedding in April in Florida.

This is the style I'd like to do. I think they look pretty easy to do myself. Do you know where I can find a template for them?

I think I'm on a roll!

- Aside from booking my venue, I price compared about 30 photographers and picked a few that MAY work for me. I'll have to wait until they return my emails to know for sure.
- I also purchased a domain name for a site specifically for our wedding guests.
- And I created a special "wedding only" email account for guests and vendors. :-) Yay. Go me!

I want some pretty draping across the chairs during the ceremony, at the cake and food tables, and maybe in a few other places as well.

What the crap do I use? I see so many different types of fabric.
-tulle
- Gossamer
- Taffeta
- Shimmera

Which fabrics work best for draping? What's the difference between the types of fabrics.

(I know..I stole water marked photos...but it's all i could find.)

We booked our venue. We're getting married at the Maitland Art Center!! It will be an intimate late morning wedding with a tea party reception. I'm excited! I hope I made the right decision with the location.

I am officially opening a "wedding only" account! It'll be our first joint account. Very exciting!

My FI's sister offered to design our wedding cake. She asked me to send her some ideas and pictures of my favorite designs.

Until now, I'd never even thought about cakes! After an hour long search, I came up with these three cakes as "favorites." Of course, I would change the colors to match my wedding. My colors are royal blue and yellow.

I think cake #1 is my favorite. I'd make the middle cake royal blue.

My fiancee will pick the flavor.

What do you think?

EDIT: Since Sam asked...Kevin is thinking strawberry swirl with buttercream frosting (mmm...actually, I gave him that thought.), but he's going to talk to his sister about what she might suggest. He doesn't like chocolate, so he gets to decide.

Kevin made this today. What do you think? What would you change?
We'll put a photo of us in the hole once we get some professional ones done.

Oh...and this will be a business card sized magnet.

I am going to look at the Maitland Art Center one last time. I made a little pros/cons list and it really didn't help me make my decision.

I'm really tired of looking at venues, I'm getting frustrated about my budget, and I like the art center.

I'm taking my mother (aka: queen of opinions) with me when I look at it this weekend. She'll tell me straight up if it's too small, too ugly, or if my guests won't like it.

FI and I like the place. Of course, my wedding is about what we want, but I also want my guests to be impressed.
I'm excited. I think I've made the right decision???

I love tea.

That being said, I've decided to make it the theme of my reception. It's going to be a tea party!

Since I'm on an insanely small budget, I'm going to buy different kinds of tea bags (black, green, roobios, white, etc.) and have a selection at every table. Guests can pick which kind they want. ( I originally wanted loose-leaf, but this is out of my price range.)

Instead of a traditional centerpiece, I will have a cute tea pot full of hot water at each table. Though, I haven't figured out how to replenish it once it's empty. I may have to "hire" someone (erg..find someone who will do it for free.)

Each table with have a different style tea pot and little tea cups. I purposely want them mis-matched...and plan to buy them at little cost at thrift stores, garage sales, and Goodwill. They always have an eclectic selection of tea cups and pots. This way, each table will be different.

Aside from the tea, we'll have some finger sandwiches, pastries, fruit, coffee, juice, and maybe some beer/wine at a buffet.

Not to give you the wrong idea...this isn't a la-di-da tea party...it's a southern/country mid-morning family tea party. Everyone just gets together to chat and catch up on old times.

I'm hoping for a reception full of laughter and memories.

Now for my question: Is this idea stupid?! Have you seen this sort of thing done before?

Which do you think would look right with yellow? these are all too expensive, but they're the type of style my girls will look for, when it's time to look for this sort of thing. Remember, my wedding is outdoors in April, the ceremony will probably take place in the morning. They will be carrying *most likely* yellow flowers.

I know I want my colors to be blue and yellow. What do you think of daffodils? I found these pics online today and find them absolutely beautiful. And I think they'd look gorgeous in the Art Center. We're getting married in the springtime, and I think they'd go well. Plus, they're a fairly inexpensive flower.

FI came up with an idea he thinks will solve my mini-crisis. (I make everything a mini-crisis.) He says...we should book the art center (which only holds 35 chairs, 50 people total, including standing room)...and have a family only ceremony and reception. All of those friends we wanted to invite, will now be invited to an "after party" so-to-speak the following weekend instead. It will be a casual night at the bar type of event. We buy everyone a round, people buy us a round, we all have a good time. Nobody buys anyone gifts. Just Eat, drink, and be MARRIED!!

Yes? no? what do you think?

I love these girls! They are the only thing that will keep me sane!

MOH: Jamie, my sister who knows how to be brutally honest when necessary.

Bridesmaid: Connie, a close friend who is very creative and will be a huge help with DIY projects.

I unofficially pushed my date back a week to avoid unnecessary issues with Easter weekend.

We went to Washington Oaks State Park. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL GARDENS! The place seemed almost enchanted. There was one place that would work PERFECT for a ceremony. They also have a picnic pavillion they recommend for receptions, but it seemed too informal. I want an informal wedding, but these seemed like dirty old picnic tables in a park.

My other concern is that it's a public park. There were a lot of young families there, and the octagon that would work great for a ceremony is right in the middle of the pathway. That means, a lot of people will be walking past our ceremony. I think it loses its intimacy.

Right across the street from the park is the beach, which is beautiful.

Everything looked gorgeous. I would recommend this as a ceremony site, but you'd have to find a different place for a reception. I'd also recommend it for e-pics. The place is EXTREMELY photogenic.

The biggest reason we scratched it off of our list is because of inconvienience. It's an hour-and-a-half away from Orlando. It wasn't "perfect" for what we're looking for.

So sad, because it really was beautiful.

So, even though people told me they've had 60 people in the Art Center Chapel, today I learned there's only room for 34 chairs. (something I realized in my head all along.) So, what should I do? Not get married there? Chop my guest list in half? Get married in the couryard instead of the chapel? The chapel is the whole point of the place!! Should I invite just family to the ceremony, and friends to the reception?

I saw this place online a few years ago, but didn't give it much thought as a wedding location because it's about 2 hrs away from Orlando. I don't know if I want to go two hours every weekend to try to plan! Plus, it's a public park and we'd have to worry about park visitors walking around (i don't want screaming stranger kids at the wedding!)

Anyway, kevin and I always wanted to get married under a big oak tree...and look at this! It's a big oak tree! It's also on the beach, which is nice, but not necessary.

The name of the place is Washington Oaks State Park. We'll try to drive there this weekend to see if it's within driving distance. Also, we need to check on possible outdoor reception locations nearby. (i want it all outdoors).

:-)

What the crap!? I typed up this long entry and the website crashed. Now I have to re-type it!

This is one of the locations we're seriously considering. I know I want a blue wedding.

Which shade of blue would you use at this site? What about an accent color?

I'm thinking a royal or navy blue with pale yellow and light pink flowers. Yes? No? I'm really bad with design! So please, give me your honest input.

P.S. I really hope this location will be big enough. When I stoppped by to look at it this morning, beautiful birds were chirping and hopping around the chapel. I LOVED it.

My parents aren't able to contribute a lot financially, but they are being incredibly supportive and helpful. My parents are always supportive, but for some reason they're input is really boosting my confidence. Perhaps its because I usually feel like our tastes are so completely opposite.

I showed them pictures of our possible wedding locations,and they think the art center is the way to go. There's still the issue of venue size, so I'm not committed to the site just yet. Plus, I'm not even sure my wedding date is available! If it's not, I'm going to be very upset!

Usually, my mom especially, does a great job of pointing out the negative, but wow, so far, she is being really helpful. It's cute to see her this excited! My dad, he's always easy going and cooperative. He's excited too, but I think he's just not showing it yet.

Btw, this picture of them was taken last summer in Ohio. They were married right in front of that hill in my grandma's backyard. (that house wasn't there years ago). They too couldn't afford an extravagant wedding, but made the best with what they had. My mom loves to tell the story of how little bunnies were hopping down the hill, watching the wedding. She says the cute little critters made the day really special. I hope I have a memorable moment like that.

We made a guest list. I talked to my parents to make sure I covered all family members who MUST be at the wedding. I had forgotten an aunt, uncle, and cousin's family.

Total: 68 YIKES!

It's very equal between me and Kevin. I have two more guests than him. Mine is all family. His are mostly friends.

The big question? How do we afford to feed 68 people?

I like the art center as a location...but the outdoor chapel can only seat 60 chairs. That, of course, started drama. I am by no means a "bridezilla" but I'm very upset about money and the lack of it. I've taken every name off the list that I can. Right now, I'm only inviting four friends to the wedding, including on of my BM. I can't take them off the list. Sometimes, I really hate the fact that I have a huge family. They're all important and I really need them at the ceremony. I included close family only, no distant relatives.

I don't want to be forced to get married at a bigger more expensive location, and cut back on other important parts of the wedding, just because I have to find a way to AFFORD to pay for 68 people. UGH!

I'm STUCK! HELP!

Wow! I am on a posting spree today! I've been watching WE and Lifetime, which puts me in a total wedding mood. Plus, a girl I work with just got back with her wedding photos today, so I am ready to start doing this thing!

I could look through EVERYONES profile, or I could make a fun "ask a question."

Where is everyone from? Any other Florida brides? I'm from Orlando.

***update***

Instead of making a new post, I'll just update this one.
We went to look at the two new locations yesterday. I love the Cypress Grove Park house. The whole place is awesome. There's a beautiful green lawn, a big white house, a lake, a rose garden. IPlus, when I saw the location I got a theme in my mind, something that hasn't happened anythwere yet. The problem? WAAY too much money. Not just a little over budget, but completely out of our price range, OF COURSE! I'm very frustrated.

The Winter Park Civic Center was nice, but not "the place." It was too cliche. It was a normal banquet hall with a nice outdoor wedding location under a tree. For the price, it just wasn't screaming "get married here!"

So, the hunt for the perfect location continues!

The Maitland Art Center is still on the list, and currently a second pick, below Cypress Grove Park (except we can't afford the park). The Art Center is nice because it's actually in our price range. BUT, Kevin isn't thrilled about the place and it is kind of small. So, We'll see!!!

I really should know better than to post pictures of really really pretty things that I can't afford. But, maybe some of you would like this picture. Maybe it works for your wedding? I'd love for a way to make it work for mine, but I know these flowers will be WAY too expensive. I really love this idea for a center piece... with different color flowers. If any of you have a cheap idea to achieve the same look. Let me know!

I have no idea what I want for a cake, or even WHERE we're getting married, but I love this cake topper. I'll buy it when we're getting closer to showtime!

I have fantastic news! Kevin knows this girl who just started her own wedding planning business. Before that, she worked as a bridal consultant. She asked Kevin to build a website for her and in return she will give us free planning services. We know her personally and think she'll do a great job! It should help us deal with things we know ABSOULTLY nothing about! (like buying flowers, wedding traditions, etc.)

I'm very excited!

My sister and I are going to our first bridal show in Feburary.

Here's the info.

Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show
2/24/2008 (12:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
Tickets are only $10.00.

Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa
1900 Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830


Can anyone tell me what to expect? I've never been to one of these things.

My ceremony and reception will most likely be held in the same venue. How long should I reserve the place for? Is four hours enough for everything? How long will set up and tear down take?

Kevin and I plan to give recipe books filled with my and Kevin's favorite recipes.

We also like the idea of little blue boxes filled with Green M&Ms with initials K+A on one side and 4-11-09 on the other. Even though our colors will most likely be blue & pink... Our last name will be Green...so it makes sense. Kevin & Amanda Green... 4-11-09. Sweet? no?

Where is everyone planning to honeymoon? We haven't decided for sure, but we will most likely go to the mountains of Montana and Glacier Nat'l Park.