This is futuremrsfoster's Black Wedding!

I will be inviting family and friends locally, nationally, and internationally. As there will be so many out of town travelers (including all but one of my bridal party traveling), when should I mail out my invitations? There is a debate on this, and I am an etiquette fiend always triple checking myself to Emily Post! However, I have not seen anything related to this.

The wedding is March 26, 2011. I was planning on mailing out invitations in November, especially because Christmas mail will be starting up soon and I don't want my invitations to be lost in the system. I have been suggested to wait until January, but what about my travelling National and International guests who plan to attend?!

HELP!!!

I am 1/2 DIYing my invitation... I say "1/2" because after spending countless hours pricing all the materials I would need to create my one-of-a-kind invites, I found that it would be more expensive to DIY them totally. Normally, this would have been the cheaper route, but I found an awesome damask invitation set with lined envelopes, RSVP cards and RSVP envelopes. I will not be sending out RSVPs, because these days people forget their manners and don't reply via snail mail, so I'm trying RSVPs by WEBSITE!!

The RSVP cards that came with the set will be used for my favors... I'll be working on those after our engagement shoot in November (which is only a couple weeks away!!). Stay posted and I will be adding photos on those.

I'm printing invitations as we speak! I think they came out great! It took a lot of time and patience emailing back and forth between my Mom and me to get everything just perfect. I used Microsoft Publisher. Unfortunately, they didn't have the exact size to print, so I had to get creative, print alot of test sheets, and break out the handy-dandy ruler!

I'm so excited!!! I think they look professionally made, and I can't wait to put the finishing touches (pink bows, of course!) on them! So far, printing them myself has been fun and pretty painless... just time consuming.

If anyone is wanting to DIY your invites and need help or tips, please give me a shout! I'd be glad to send my templates!!

How long did you date before you got engaged?
7 months and (again) 2 years 3 months

Did you get the ring you wanted?
Yes! It's stunning and a contstant reminder of how much I love him!

Was the proposal a complete surprise?
That it would happen, no surprise... When, absolutely!

Do you wish you had a bigger/smaller diamond? If so How big or small?
It is perfect, and I wouldn't ever change it!

Did you cry when he proposed?
First round, yes... Second round, we were just ready and content, so no.

Was the proposal romantic or creative? Explain how if you'd like.
1st - Christmas Eve 2008, he wrapped about 10 boxes that fit inside the other to make a HUGE box and told me I couldn't touch it or it would break. When I started opening them, I didn't even notice him get on bended knee. He asked me to marry him and I asked if he was joking. HaHa!

2nd - August 2010, he picked up Sushi from our favorite Japanese restaurant and we took the boat out to the middle of the lake on the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen... it was unforgettable!

Where do you want to go for your honeymoon?
We planned DisneyWorld, and went this past summer.... so now we're off to VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Are you buying his wedding band for him?
Check and Double Check... It should be back from the jeweler in a couple of weeks. He changed his mind on the ring he wanted.

Have you gone over your original wedding budget?
Not even close! And I hope we don't!

What day of the year will your wedding be?
Saturday, March 26, 2011

What kind of weather?
Lord, please bring us sunshine, no clouds or rain, a warm breeze, and a comfortable temperature!

Inside or outside?
Ceremony - Inside; Reception - Both

Church/justice of the peace/other?
Church

How many people will be there?
Approximately 100

Time of day?
Half past six o'clock in the evening

Any kind of theme?
black and white, damask, & fuschia

How many bridesmaids? Who would they be?
Sister - MOH; 4-5 BFFs (waiting on 1 response) - BMs

What kind of cake/what will it look like?
Still working on that detail!

Where will you have the reception?
Church Hall

What kind of dress will you have/color/material?
Strapless, Davinci 8314, white with silver thread accents, STUNNING, mermaid/trumpet style

What kind of flowers in your bouquet?
Fuchsia Gerbera Daisies

Kind of engagement ring?
White gold with diamonds in pave setting band, marquis cut center, 2 round cut 1 on either side of marquis center stone, 20 round cut 10 on each side going down the band

Kind of wedding bands?
His - plain white gold ("I don't want diamonds or any of that other crap") =)
Mine - white gold with diamonds in pave setting

How will you wear your hair?
curled, 1/2 up

Who will be important to be there?
Everyone who is important to Matthew and I that can make it! Those who can't will be in our hearts!

Will the reception be big or small?
Medium-ish

What will the groom wear?
Black tux, fuchsia vest and tie, black square-toe shoes

Where will you go for the honeymoon?
Vegas!

How long?
8 days

What will you do?
Everything... Can't wait

Will it be modest or costly?
Mostly free... Parents gave us thier condo for the week, and Vegas has so much free stuff to see and do, so just what we eat and maybe a show?

What will you stay in?
Condo at Marriott/Planet Hollywood

How old will you and the groom be?
24 & 23 (I'm the old one.. haha!0

How long will you be engaged before you get married?
2.5 years

Live together before or wait till married?
We bought our house together 3 months after we met and started dating... We knew we had found "The One" by the first week we dated

Take a long time to plan the wedding or will it be simple?
Both

Will you do it yourself or with family or hire someone to plan the wedding?
I am doing mostly DIY and having LOTS of help from my awesome entourage of family and friends

Will you write your own vows or use something pre-made?
Whatever Father Paul tells us to say, we will say and MEAN IT!

I have the most AWESOME AUNTS EVER!!! My Aunt who lives nearby visited my other Aunt in Houston this past weekend. She came home and surprised me with some incredible Hobby Lobby finds!!! YAY FOR 50% OFF!!!

I spend most weekends browsing Hobby Lobby (I'm not a craft junkie.. I swear!) , and talking to my Mom (who lives across the country) while I "shop". I refuse to buy anything that is not on sale, but I fell in love with Hobby Lobby's damask wedding collection. Last night, my Aunt surprised me with bags full of goodies:

1. Matching Flower Girl Basket ($15), Ring Bearer Pillow ($12), and Guest Book Pen ($12)

2. Black and White Damask Bows ($6 each)

3. Damask Table Covers in Plastic ($3 each)

4. Bride & Groom Cake Topper ($13)

5. Rose Petals ($5)

6. 30ft 2.5" Scroll Black and White Ribbon ($3.50)

I also found some awesome goodies:

1. Damask Spiral Bound Journal - My Guestbook ($2.99)
Embroidered Iron-On Monogram Black "F" - I'll be glueing it to the front of my Guestbook ($1.29)

2. 50 Plastic Champagne Toasting Flutes ($9.99 / box)

Ladies, keep your eyes peeled for great deals! They are out there, and will often fall in your lap! GOOD LUCK!!! I will be posting photos and my DIY projects soon... Keep checking for ideas!

I am on a very tight budget of about $3,000.00 and am expecting between 100-150 guests. Luckily, my sister married a couple years ago and we still have a ton of decorations from her wedding! My planning time will be smack dab in the middle of hunting season, so I will have PLENTY of time, and the whole house, all to myself to project, plan, and DIY!!! I love to see how creative I can be and am no stranger to do-it-yourself projects, so I'm really excited to share my ideas with other brides in my budget pickle....

Currently, I have our Church Hall reserved (not booked, yet!) for the reception. We have use of the building and everything in it, including a full kitchen and grills oustide. This will be great if we decide to DIY the banquet reception meal. However, the tables and (ESPECIALLY) the rusty old fold out chairs will need to be covered. Renting linens will be a large added expense to the already $200 rental fee for the Hall. Some caterers in our area also include linens and chair covers/sashes in thier prices, so I am looking into whether or not a caterer would be more cost efficient. I've also been exploring the option of having the reception at a hotel, plantation, or other venue.

Any ideas on what ya'll have done to cut back on budget? I'm wanting a reception atmosphere that is relaxed and elegant, but not so far as "black-tie". My primary lighting to set the mood will be lots of twinkle (ok, Christmas!) lights and candles.