This is naivenitara's Green Wedding!

I'm planning to schedule a make-up makeover styling in a few months with a few different people. I know I'd like something soft, glamorous, and romantic, and also something that will pop in pictures since it will be an evening wedding; a look that works in natural light and candle light without being too overpowering. And of course, a style that really makes my eyes really stand out. I don't typically wear alot of make up, so I think it will be fun to really play with some different styles. I don't yet know if I'm going to learn some techniques and do my own make up or hire someone.

Here's are little reminders I tell myself to keep me sane and keep my neurotic interior designer/bridezilla mentality in check.

Personally, I don't think every little detail has to match.  Who cares if the hue of the napkin matches the hue of the invitations?  I could care less if the shade of my bridesmaid's dress matches the ribbon in the favors.  And I don't mind at all if the guestbook doesn't match the ring bearer pillow.  Heaven forbid if the chocolate of the cake clashes with the centerpieces and toasting flutes though! I'm just kidding. ;)

Sometimes it's fun to mix it up and just have different pieces and elements that you love.  And though I want to plan this wedding down to the very last detail, I have to remind myself that life is too short to worry about whether my thank you cards will match the place cards; or whether my shoes will match my linens.  I'm bound to miss some mundane little detail and that's perfectly okay.  And in the grand scheme of things, who's going to notice or remember if the flower girl basket ribbon matched my wedding veil exactly?

Our wedding will be a day of celebration with our family and friends, and we're going to be happy and in love even if everything isn't just perfect.  Everything doesn't have to be perfect.  It just has to be us.

Here's a variety of different shoes, purses, jewelry, and hair accesories I'm contemplating. I'm not dead set on these because I know I can find everything at a great bargain price elsewhere. I still haven't decided between simplistic or extravagant; diamonds, or pearls; wedges or heels; tiara or hair clips, but I know I still have some time to play before it's time to put all the details together to create one smokin' hot masterpiece!

We are thinking of mixing things up a bit and doing a sand ceremony in lieu of the typical candle ceremony. I think it will be fun and different, plus we'll have a beautiful, customized keepsake to display anywhere in our home. I think I'd like the sand colors to be sage, chocolate, and possibly a terra cotta color if I can track down the color. Otherwise, sage and sand will be just lovely.

If you're not sure what a sand ceremony is, you can read more about it at:

http://www.unitysandceremony.net/

And a special thanks to all the brides for all your great advice! You ladies are awesome!

After much discussion we thought a small cruise would be a great honeymoon. Being on a budget, it eliminates the cost of car rental and hotel costs and since we've never been on one before, it could be quite the memorable adventure....or an agonizing memory of overwhelming sea sickness, lol. Guess we'll see. We're thinking of possibly a 3 or 4 day cruise around the edge of Cali and the Mexican Riviera, which would possibly pan out to be: San Diego, Catalina Island, Ensenada Mexico, and back to San Diego. Anyone every been on a cruise before who could shed some tips and or insight? ;-)

Favors are such a hard call to make. On one hand it's nice to give guests alittle something special to take home. On the other hand I've been to alot of weddings. Most of the favors end up in my junk drawer. And I've read an article or two from caterers who have to clean up at the end of the night. They end up throwing away tons of left over favors. What a waste of money! I either want to give guests something they can eat or something they can use, and I don't want to spend too much in case they do end up in the trash. I thought personalized cd's of our favorite songs would be nice...but I've gotten one of those before. Unfortunately it's in my junk drawer...unopened.

5/13/08- Okay, I think I've found the favors I like.  Since the theme will be something like fall in love, why not cute little mugs with personalized apple cider mix or hot cocoa?  Something sweet and warm to drink for crisp autum evenings!  How hard can it be?  Buy the mix in the packs at the grocery stores, and print out cute lables to put on them.  

I thought signature drinks would be kinda fun, if we decide to go that route. Definitely depends on how the finances work out. And we have the perfect name. Nate's last name is Deratany (pronounced Dare-uh-tan-ee) So we thought we'd make a martini in our colors, sage and chocolate (chocolate sugar on the rim) and why not call it a "Deratini"?

Aldea at Tlaquepaque (means "the best of everything") is a unique and exclusive location in the Northwest Valley. Aldea is a distinctive and stunning 7,600 square foot indoor/ outdoor wedding and reception center nestled in the city of Phoenix. Aldea is located within the walls of Tlaquepaque and modeled after Sedona`s famous village. Its vine covered stucco walls, brick walkways and flowing fountain are just a few of it's characteristic features. This exceptional location offers an indoor ceremony area with stained glass windows, towering ceilings, and arches as well as boasting an additional 6000' square feet of beautiful courtyards with classic fountains, staircases, and Tuscan style architecture.

www.aldeaweddings.com

For Nate and I, it is the perfect place for our wedding. We'd had a list of a dozen places to check out, but as soon as we found this venue, we instantly knew it was the one for us!

The place we're getting married includes centerpieces in their package, but i was thinking something with alot of candles. Candles are inexpensive, but romantic and beautiful. Truth be told though, I don't really care too much about the centerpieces because I'm hoping everyone will be out on the dance floor. ;) I don't mind if it's the boring run of the mill floating candles with glass beads and flower petals on a beveled piece of mirror blah blah blah. Whatever. Let's dance!

Honestly, I know whatever Nate is in, he will look wonderful. He really cleans up well, lol! I don't think he's too crazy about a sage vest and tie, so I'll suggest it, but let him do whatever he wants. As long as he doesn't try to sneak a tuxedo shirt in the mix, I'm sure it'll be great! ;)

We've cut our wedding party down drastically to give it a more intimate, family appeal. Nate will have his best man, and I will have my maid of honor. Nate's niece and nephew will be the ring bearer and flower girl. I see my maid of honor in a pretty tea length halter or spaghetti strap sage satin dress. Maybe even mix in a chocolate or ivory sash. This is her day to sparkle too, so she should be looking her most chic!

I wasn't certain until I came to this website, but I'm pretty sure I want the best of both worlds. Half up & Half down. Something soft, and side swept with lose pretty curls. Still trying to decide betweeen viel, tiara, or floral in my hair though.

I talked to one of my friends who recently got married and she said that if you do your hair half up and half down, I may constantly be adjusting it for worrying about how it looks for pictures. She suggested up for the ceremony and down for the reception. That's not a bad idea actually. Maybe there is a way for me to have it all!

Once again, I'd like to incorporate the spanish iron work motif somewhere on my cake, but I'm still not sure of all the elements I want. I think I want the scroll work design, sugared ribon or beadwork border, and maybe some floral, but I don't want the cake to be overwhelming. (I suppose if I load it with all those things it very well could be, lol!) I'm also not certain what type of cake topper I'd like. It's a toss up between something floral or our monogram. We're doing the cake tasting in mid-February to figure out the filling. I'd love some suggestions!

4/21/08 Update
We finalized our cake design last month. It will be a square, three tiered, assymetrical multi-design with fun patterns on each cake layer (dots, swirls, and stripes, something fun and zany like us). The colors will be sage and chocolate on an ivory back ground with a strawberry butter cream filling.

The design is pretty contemporary, so I don't think we'll add any floral. But for a fun cake topper, we're going to find a simple "N" monogram (for both of our first names) or two hearts and have it dipped in chocolate to match the cake.

Still searching for invitations that we like. We'd love something that incorporates the spanish iron work motif of our wedding site on it; something with a soothing combinations of sage, chocolate, and classic ivory perhaps...We'll either print them ourselves or find a mom and pop shop to print them for us.

I want a bouquet that captures the beautiful hues of autumn without being too fall cliche and rustic. I'm envisioning contemporary flamed calla lilies and traditional velvety black magic roses paired with long strands of bamboo grass and hypericum to cage it all in. Mixing traditional and classic with contemporary vibrance. Very ecclectic, very me!

2/18/08- Updates. Met with our florist again to finalize, and he suggested our floral be "reverse wedding" style. Where the groom and I have colored flowers and the wedding party has ivory to match my dress. I think I like that, because it's different and cost effective. I thought I'd like to hold ivory roses, but I need color to punch up my dress. But everyone else with have color so I'm thinking their ivory florals will balance everything out. Does that make sense? Probably not. ;)

So, my boquet- burgundy roses, flame calla lillies, circus roses, burgundy hypericum, and caged and loose bamboo grass
Groom- flamed callalilly and burgundy hyperiucm
My MOH- 3 large Ivory calla lillies
Best man- Ivory rose bout.
Mothers- 2 ivory rose wrist corsage
Fathers- Ivory rose bout. w/ burgundy hypericum

If we have a flower girl, I'll have her drop silk flower petals, red, ivory, and a persimmon if we can find it. Those may also possibly accent the table tops.

Of course, this is always subject to change...

I absolutely loved this dress at David's Bridal but it was waaaay too expensive and way out of my budget.  Then a friend and I were palling around in this second hand vintage store and by chance, I saw this lovely dress on a manequin.  It was an ivory, satin trumpet line dress with a lightly beaded bodice. It even had a train! I figured the odds of me fitting into it were slim to none since I'm right in the middle of a body transistion, but after some struggling (okay lots of struggling), we managed to zip it up!  But I could barely breathe in it. I've still got a little weight left to lose. The best part is I got it for such a bargain; I couldn't dream of passing it up.  Now I just need all of the accesories!

2/8/08 Dress update. I started last October making my body makeover transistion and I've finally made my weight goal. I've lost 15lbs. I just tired on my dress again and I can actually zip it up and breathe in it! I'm so excited!

4/3/08- Update. I found an alterations place right by my house and I really like her! Plus she's charging me 4x's less than a previous quote I got from some big wig alterations place down town. I totally support mom and pop shops!!