This is gracefuldove's White Wedding!

I just got tote bags for the OOT bags here:

http://igreetu.stores.yahoo.net/

15" x 16" natural canvas totes for $2.95 each (with a full color imprint with my uploaded image of up to 8" x9") with a 25 bag minimum. Less than a dollar each if you want them blank.

I ordered 50 and they came to $140.00 plus shipping

Here is the menu our caterer proposed for dinner :


New York Peppercorn Sirloin Roast: with Creamy Horseradish & Whole Grain Mustard

Chicken Picatta: lemon butter caper sauce

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Fresh Asparagus: blanched, served chilled with olive oil & lemon zest

Mixed Greens with Topping Bar

Pasta Primavera: fusilli pasta with Roma tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, parmesan and fresh basil with a garlic sun-dried tomato olive oil sauce

Artisan breads with butter

Wedding cake, Champagne sorbet, chocolate dipped strawberries

The first three hors d'oeuvres we picked were on skewers so we decided to make it a theme. Only the cheese and crackers won't be skewered.

Baked Brie & Camembert, sharp cheddar, smoked Gouda, Sonoma Pepper Jack, Swiss, Oregon Blue, California Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomato & Herb Crusted Sonoma Goat Cheese, French bread baguette & Carr’s crackers

Fruit skewers

Chicken Satay Skewers: Thai Chili peanut sauce

‘Paltan’ Beef Skewers: spicy filet with blue cheese dip

Prosciutto & Melon Skewers: cantaloupe & honey dew

Caprice Skewers: 'tear drop’ tomato & fresh mozzarella, pesto sauce, fresh basil leaf

Muffuletta skewers: mixed olives, sundried tomato chunks,sliced ham and salami with swiss cheese wraps

We found this great little winery in California after all. It is reasonably priced and they reccomended a caterer who is within our budget.
$1,000.00 to rent the site including a bridal suite for changing.
$1,100.00 for the beverages including unlimited service of port, champagne, up to 10 wines, bottled water, regular and diet soft drinks, and sparkling cider for 4 hours.
$400.00 for the planner

Now to see the florists and figure out the rentals. Luckily the winery has a wedding planner onsite. So we're paying the $400.00 for 15 hours of her time. She will coordinate the set-up the day of.

Thankfully the invitations haven't been approved and printed yet because they say the twelfth instead of the eleventh. We still have tons of time before we need to mail them. We still have to choose what syle holder we want for them. I think I like the gatefold best.

Anyone know what the etiquette on Save-the-dates? How far in advance should we send them?

I'm going to order the cufflinks as a present for my FH. We are getting the much less expensive rectangular ones for the guys, also engraved with initials and they are getting a different tie. I'm thinking bout. for the groom and pocket squares for the guys. What do you think? Which tie would you prefer for the groomsmen?

I never would have beleived it by looking at a picture, but it is perfect. I was looking at sheath and mermaid styles and then when I put on this one I was amazed, but I loved it!

I wanted a lace edge veil and a lace jacket so I looked all over for a really simple dress. It was much harder than I expected.

I also ordered a lace jacket and fingertip veil with lace edges to match the jacket. If you look at the picture the jacket is cropped with 3/4 sleeves and ends just above the bust. The crystals at the waist are on the dress they are showing it with.

I ordered these shoes to try. I haven't tried them on. I can send them back or exchange them if they don't work. I want something simple and comfy.

I think I'm sold on the little bird bracelet and earrings, both from etsy so I plan on ordering them soon.

I already ordered the ribbon and brooch for the sash, so that's done.

For the reception I would like to put the large white flower in my hair and take off the veil. Maybe i can wear the flower under the veil and make it easy. I also plan to lose the lace jacket after the ceremony and I am looking for a white pashmina in case it is chilly.

Bridesmaids possibilities

I remember seeing a DIY project that I can't find now. It must have been somewhere else, or maybe I put two projects together in my head.
The end result was a luminaria made out of an ultra-thin wood veneer with cutout designs.
It looked alot like the luminaries made from vellum.
Anyway, I'm going to try to make one as a prototype for my table numbers.
I found the birch veneer, it is about as thick as cardstock and fairly flexible (enough to form into a cylinder). Thanks for all your help and suggestions I'll post the finished product if it looks descent.

I included a picture of the wood veneer and some rectangular table numbers with cutouts, although these are made from cardstock not veneer.

I also found some digital files for wood veneer so I could try printing the whole thing on vellum as some of you suggested, and some cardstock with woodgrain.

Somewhere I saw a DIY project with thin wood veneer or wood paper wrapped around a glass cylinder, with a image cut out of it with an exacto knife and used as a table number with a candle inside. Has anyone else seen it? I would like to make them. I may have to DIY from scratch if not. They don't seem hard, just requiring meticulousness.

I might try just printing on the veneer as if it was paper. A grapevine and some little birds with a table number probably. I think it is thin and flexible enough to make it through my printer and then add some ribbon,silver gray or champagne?

I love the shabby chic aesthetic. A little bit of rough and a lot of pretty. These are some ideas.

Your favorite? I like them all, but I'm leaning toward #1 or #9.