Just A Thought:

Wedding planning has been winding down for a while now. Saddled with school work and the fact that... Well, the damn thing is two years from now, but I feel the need to share this anyhow:

"As the candy hearts poured into the fiery quasar a wondrous thing happened, why not. They vaporized into a mystical love radiation that spread across the universe destroying many, many planets, including two gangster planets and a cowboy world. But one planet was exactly the right distance to see the romantic rays but not be destroyed by them: Earth. So all over the world couples stood together in joy. And me, Zoidberg. And no one could have been happier unless it would have also been Valentine's Day. What? It was? Hooray!"

- Dr. Zoidberg, Futurama

EDIT :: Not sure that would work because, obviously, our wedding isn't on Valentine's Day. Definitely have to find a quote from Futurama, though.

This is basically what we think the groom/groomsmen will end up dressing like.

{elizabeth anne designs}

SUCCESS!

Ceremony/reception confirmed and wedding dress received. There isn't a happier girl in the world right now.

\o/

EDIT :: Not gonna lie, I look pretty hot in my wedding dress.

And A Yellow Bow

I've been thinking for a while about adding a yellow sash to my dress. Then I found this:

I really love the fabric flowers and I'm sure I could find some sort of tutorial to make them myself.

{style me pretty}

...and all is well.

Finally got a hold of the event coordinator. Simply stated, the need for a ceremony site slipped through the middle man. It happens.

The next blow was that, while the entirety of the wedding must be paid through my student account, the deposit cannot. That fine, my dad said I could just put it on his credit card. Next problem: While MU accepts Discover cards, the University Club does not. So we've spent the weekend trying to get my mom's Mastercard paid off.

Then I realized that the contract isn't due until Friday.

Big sigh of relief.

{photo: Liz Wolfe}

A Little Update

I haven't written anything in a while, but that makes sense considering I've pretty much figured everything out and this blog was more of a place to catalog ideas. Well, now I'm gonna keep a running time line so someday I can look back and say: "Oh, that's why we thought it was a good idea to not have a DJ."

Anyways, so right now we are working on actually sealing the deal with the venue. We have decided on working with the University Club out of MU, so our ceremony can be out on the Carnahan quad.

The main problem right now is that the contract sent to me says nothing about the ceremony. The ceremony is the biggest reason why we've picked the Club, so I really need to check and make sure it's included.

Unfortunately, like everything else that has to do with MU, getting a hold of someone is next to impossible. Though I prefer to speak on the phone as opposed to emails, the event consultant ask that I contact her through email. So I sent her an email a while ago and I have yet to hear from her. Not that she's been a problem at all to work with, on the contrary she is quite lovely. I suppose I'll just tomorrow. The ceremony being on the quad is a make-it-or-break-it deal for us and I have to make sure I'm getting what I want.

More Bouquet Ideas...

I really love the idea of wildflowers...

Literary Centerpieces

"A life full of stories waiting to be written" has kind of become our unofficial tag line. I'm sure it will find its way into our invitations and all that jazz. So we plan on utilizing it in the decor, not only with those nifty little cupcake holders, but also with non-floral centerpieces. Probably something like this.

{offbeat bride}

Venue Win!

Deposit hasn't been put down yet, but this about 95% locked down.

I'm such a lucky girl.

Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

While siting here thinking about the local flavor of Columbia, as well as favors, I remembered the Candy Factory on Cherry Street. Not only do they sell chocolate covered potato chips, a local favorite, but they also sell their own special style of turtles: a Katy.

Dorkiness.

Happy negative two year anniversary to us! We'll be getting hitched exactly two years to the date.

Don't Panic, We've Got Programs

Since Derek and I are literally the only people in our families that have ever lived in Columbia, I think a program (complete with directions) is the best way to go about it. Then, considering my talented fiance's... well... talents, he could write up an adorably long-winded program like these Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy inspired programs a couple shared on the Offbeat Bride.

{the offbeat bride}

OM NOM NOM CUPCAKE MONSTER

Since we're taking this whole shabby chic literary/bookish theme now and running with it, here's some cupcake inspiration:

{saucy's sprinkles}

Also, heres a tutorial on how to actually cut cupcake wrappers on Offbeat Bride.

Venue Dilemma

I've realized that as much as I would love to get married at my parent's place, it might be exactly the opposite of what we want. We want a completely casual wedding with more of an emphasis on us starting a life together than the usual stuffy pomp and circumstance of most weddings. It needs to be a celebration of us, not a huge show that we put on for the 897345 guests that show up for free food.

If we continue with the wedding in Lonedell we'll run into these problems: an inevitably inflated guest list, a wedding at the whim of Mother Nature, an inability to set up the location the night before, having to clean up after my own wedding, hidden costs like renting bathrooms, a hefty tent rental, renting everything from plates to chairs to tables to... well... literally everything.

That doesn't sound particularly enjoyable.

So the only other option we can think of would be to have the wedding here, in Columbia.

Surely we could have the wedding in between Lonedell and St. Charles, but honestly: Who wants to deal with planning a wedding around two hours away from where you live? (I mean an un-destination wedding, I guess. Mid-West MO isn't quite as exotic)

Now, this seems like the perfect choice. We met in Columbia. We go to school here, we've made a life here. Together. And while getting married at my parent's house would mean a lot to me, getting married in our town would mean a lot to us. I'm now trying to see if it would be at all possible to actually get married on campus. It seems like a long shot but who the hell wouldn't want to get married here?

I Need to Leave 2000dollarwedding Alone!

Again, wandering through 2000dollarwedding and I find this little gem. This last line is so perfect for us and the journey we are about to take. Now I just need to find out a way to use it!

{kiss the paper via 2000dollarwedding}

Snerk

I've been painfully combing through Google in search of a fun, creative way to word the invitations. You know, in lieu of the traditional "Mr and Mr blah blah present Ms. blah blah blah blah..." In any case, this search has not exactly been fruitful, but I have stumbled upon this idea for the Response Card:

__ Gladly attend
__ Regretfully decline
__ Regretfully attend
__ Enthusiastically decline
__ Will decline to respond but ultimately attend
__ Think you are just trying to wrest a gift out of me
__ Other__________________________

{2000dollarwedding}

Martha Stewart Style!

A quick jet around the web yielded a nice result. If I have the time, I should just make the poms myself. Here are the directions as dictated by Martha Stewart Weddings:

What You'll Need:
You'll need tissue paper and 24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire.

What to Do:
1. Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inchwide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

4. Tie a length of monofilament to floral wire for hanging.

Heat Wave

In wake of the current sweltering going on, we might want to look into some of these:

Uhm, Rings!?

Etsy has clearly became my favorite website of all:



Dude, this set is $ 90. Holy crap. It's the Simple Sterling Band with a Soft Satin Matte from Lunasa Designs Jewelry.

The Dress!

I don't have a problem showing this off, because I'm going to do a few other things to it. Sooo, here's the dress:



I plan on adding a yellow sash around the waist. Still, how wonderfully perfect! This picture is from Charmbrides, but I can get it cheaper at Light In The Box.

Something A Little Interesting

So here's an idea: To go with the casual motif, how about forgoing the suit jacket (that costs a small fortune and will probably spend most of its time adorning the back of chair) for this look.

This, of course, may or may not be flattering on Derek. Only time can tell! Either way, its wonderfully mod.

{cameron ingalls via 100 layer cake}

Party Poms

If we're having a tent, we're gonna have to dress it up some how. And why not with these!?

{party poms via etsy}

Ceremony Decor

I've been struggling for an idea that I really like for the ceremony. This flower/sash dealio could work with our flowers:

{heather kincaid via brenda's wedding blog}

Lemonade Stand

Running with the "Summer Theme" idea, as well as the welcome bag idea, we could pass them out at a lemonade stand!

{jk photography via brenda's wedding blog}

Containers should be more like this, visual-wise:

How's About Some Food?: Barbeque and Soda Bar

We've come to a decision with the food: Barbeque! Considering that our theme is basically summer, barbeque is the perfect choice. Not to mention that I'm sure we could work something out with family members who rock at barbequing. We'll have to figure out a nice way to put together the buffet table, but other than that I'm pretty much in love with the idea.

So on to the drinks: We have decided to have a dry wedding. I know, I know. We're terrible. But we have decided we want to have a nifty little old fashioned soda bar.


I mean, how cool!? Jones Sodas are customizable and come in a variety of flavors, but if that proves to be too expensive this Old 52 place seems rather cheap. Perhaps instead of just setting the sodas out on a table we could see about getting some big old woven baskets. Line the the inside with a trash bag (double line, probably), fill with ice and presto! Instant cooler! One per flavor, perhaps?

{soda bar idea via project wedding}

I lied:

This is definitely the kind of Alt-Calligraphy I want to accomplish.

{niethersnow via 100 layer cake}

Mmm, Handiness...

It's not exactly what I want, but this here is a handy dandy little tutorial on how to throw together a boutonniere. Ours will probably be variations of the yellow Calla Lillies, the Tiger Lillies and the Jasmine.

{the inspired bride}

Another Reception Possibility

I completely forgot about the Meramac Lakes Golf Course. I don't know if they do events at all but it doesn't hurt to look into it!

EDIT :: Nix that, they do not actually do events. But a new idea courtesy of Mom, find a venue half way between Lonedell and St. Charles. The Ramada Inn in Eureka is right next to Six Flags...

Centerpieces!

So, how neat it is this? And I think it's perfectly doable with yellow Calla Lilies. Simple and clean. But all of this will depend on if we end up with round or long tables...

{modern girl's wedding via project wedding}

Shake It Like A Polaroid Picture!

Remember those clunky old Polaroid cameras? Well, here's a guest book idea: Instead of boring old signatures, we'll have a Polaroid camera next to a big photo album. Guests can take pictures of themselves and put them in the album. Now if we can find a working Polaroid... and film...

And here's another tip that I found: Instead of spending money on a calligrapher or risking an unsteady hand, print the addresses and such with a handwriting-style font on the invitations with a light colored ink. Then go over the print with the opaque ink. It's concise but it still has that handwritten feel.

{calligraphy idea via project wedding}

Slight Descion on the Favors

Okay, so as adorable as the Cupcake Jars are, I think this is more suited for our wedding (and the fact that Derek's slightly obsessed with them). So we'll have a candy bar, heavy on the Jelly Bellies (citrus flavors and coconut). Also, we can make some personalized bags for people to make their own concoctions. I just knocked out the hor d'oeuvres and the favors in one fell swoop... BAM!

I guess I'll just have to use the Cupcake Jars some other time...

{jelly belly}

A Sweet Favor Idea

Okay, how freakin' cute is this!? I think this would be a pretty good favor idea, but I don't think that cupcakes are categorically summer. Are they?

{cakies via elizabeth anne designs}

THE TIE HAS BEEN FOUND!

WOOOHOOOOO!


Now I just have to find some coral ones...

{the tie bar}

A Centerpiece Idea?

This is interesting, I think. Since technically we're going for lemon yellow and coral, it's a little citrus-y. So, what if instead of leaves we use Tiger Lilies and lemons? Food for thought.

{project wedding}

For Future Reference...

Just stumbled upon a master list of low priced goods. Not sure how it can used but it will be nice to have it here instead of my over-stuffed bookmark tab.

{the inspired bride}

Ah, To Dream

I have fallen in love with a photographer! Unfortunately she's based in Kansas City and totally out of our price range. But a girl can dream!

{darbi g. photography}

Backdrop

Look, I know we aren't getting married on a beach, but I think that somehow we can rig up something like this. It could be just as beautiful without the bamboo, right?

{brenda's wedding blog}

All Tied Up

So I have uncovered a distinct tie possibility. There are simply two problems:

1. A white accent would really make the pattern distinct, something that I want.
2. Since these are online, I can't physically see the colors and coral is such an odd color I want to make sure it's right.

Either way, if we can't find anything else these could definitely suffice.

{the tie bar}

More Flower Justification

So here it is! This is the exact kind of bouquet I want. Maybe a few minor variations to distinguish between the bride bouquet, the maid of honor bouquet, and the bridesmaids bouquets.

{joel ross photography via brenda's wedding blog}

Taking it in a Craftier Direction...

Another possibility for the invitations:


A handmade replication of this for the invitations. This takes it in a slightly more DIY mode, something which (I think) we're going for. On the other hand, painting all of these would take a good amount of labor and time.

{courtney khail stationery via snippet & ink}

Still addressing could be made a lot easier by trying out a calligraphy alternative. Regardless of if I decide to hand-paint flowers on every invitation, this looks much easier (and much cuter) than stuffy old calligraphy:

{lettergirl via life.love.lipstick.}

EDIT :: My lovely wonderful Maid of Honor reminded me of a wonderful invention called the photocopier. If we can photocopy an original watercolor and ink onto some card-stock this will be the direction I'm headed.

Jamming in the Photo Session

In the interest of time, the best way to tackle the wedding photos might be taking them before the wedding.

Or possibly we could take pictures with the wedding party before the ceremony, then the bride/groom and family pictures after wards? That might work if each session took about a half an hour. But then again I don't really understand time, so who knows...

Shoes!

Decision on the shoes:

Derek (that's me!) will be wearing stunning yellow Chuck Taylor Converses, whilst the rest of the groomsman will be wearing standard issue white on black Converses.

The chicks are in sandals.

Left-overs

Right now I'm toying with idea of having the wedding party in coral and then me and Derek in yellow. Obviously the men wouldn't be completely in coral and I have no intention of seeing Derek in head-to-toe yellow. More like coral ties for the groomsmen and a yellow tie for Derek, only if we could do this all in the same pattern though. I want the bridesmaids in coral either way.

If we could go though with that, I would see about getting a yellow ribbon tied around the waist of my dress.

Last order of business: Welcome bag. Since we plan on having the wedding in my parent's back yard and there is no acceptable reception hall anywhere near there, a welcome bag will definitely be a necessity. Inside guests will find a program, directions to wherever we end up having the reception (maybe at the Gala Event Center in Union?), and sunblock. Maybe funny yellow sunglasses?

Unloading a Truck of Flower Ideas

I want a lot of color in this wedding (We're colorful people, no?), so I want the bouquet to be mostly color. The details are fuzzy, but these are some parameters.

This the must, Tiger Lilies:

As for the yellow, I'm not quite sure, but here are the finalists. We've got a yellow rose and two types of yellow lilies.











So that leaves the accents as white Jasmine:

The most likely combo would be the Tiger Lilies, Yellow Roses, and Jasmine. Heavy on the Tiger Lilies for me and heavy on the roses for the bridesmaids. Boutonnieres: Derek would probably end up with a Tiger Lily and the groomsmen with yellow roses. Bam!