Neat

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I am smitten with this idea. The couple had ostrich feathers placed on the dance floor during their first dance. The movement caused the feathers to twirl in the air. So magical & simple.

Escort card idea

There are so many cute ideas on how to display escort cards. It's such a tiny detail that to an outsider, it might seem strange to put so much work/thought into it. But now that I have my guest list finalized & seating chart more or less completed, it's time to actually make the darn things. I've mulled over so many ideas on how to display the silver bird clips with the vintage Love tags. This morning I had a thought and it revolves around this idea that I posted a while back. This is my inspiration board for the escort card display. I know... you're thinking 'how is it possible to build a whole board for one detail?' That's just how I think. Here's my idea - Use clementine oranges as the base. Stick a twig into the center. This will serve as the escort card holder. Then using either clear or green vellum paper, I'll print out beautiful calligraphy (printed from the computer - my personal penmanship is nothing to brag about) of the guests names. I'll cut the vellum sheets into strips & curl the edges so it looks like a scroll. Next I'll punch a hole in the vellum strip & thread a piece of twine through it, fastening to the Love tag. I'll hand write the table number on the Love tag. Next I'll clip the tag onto the twig with the bird clip. I'm going to make a prototype sometime this week. Hopefully it won't be too top-heavy.

Love this

{Martha Stewart Weddings Planning Tools}

I used to think Martha Stewart was a crazy, over-obsessed woman. Perhaps that's still true & I've just grown up to also become over-obsessed about party details. But seriously, the wedding planning tools on her website are amazingly helpful. I really wish that I had taken the time to use these earlier, as there are so many! From vendor lists to budget organizers. I'm currently transferring my excel spreadsheet timeline to her worksheet. It's great because you can tag each item with a category, so I can filter and create day-of schedules for each of my vendors. But what I'm super excited about is the seating chart tool. You can create the space to scale, import your existing guest list, group people into parties and then just drag & drop the people in their seats. So clean, easy & FREE.

Linens

On Friday we took a mini family field trip (mom, brother & brother's girlfriend) up to the venue to finalize the linens & decorations. The table was giving me problems. I've decided not to use these. I know, what a shame. Perhaps I'll keep one for myself & sell the rest on Wedding Bee classifieds. I just don't think the table squares were working with the overall feel - and they especially clashed with the black in my color scheme. So instead, at the last minute we opted for adding a colored overlay in celadon green.

It's more of a minty green as opposed to the olive green I'm using everywhere else, but it looks really nice under the dim lighting in the reception area. Plus, the black napkins really pop on top of the green. However, it seemed like the center of the table still needed something. At this point with financial resources being tight, I'm looking for a cheap way to frame the centerpieces. Possible solution: Die Cuts.

die cut lace papers from Nicole Lombardo

These beautiful swirl design papers are usually used for scrapbooking, but how lovely would they be framing the space of the centerpieces? And, they are inexpensive ranging from $1.50 - $3 a piece.

Bustle & flow

click on picture for details {Bustle brooch: Which style?}

I picked up my dress from being altered & I wanted to make my shoe clip(s) into a brooch to place over the bustle. I'm having a difficult time decided on which way to clip it. 2 clips? 1 clip pointed upward or 1 clip pointed downward?

A pretty pair

{For the Mothers}

Sadly, my mom misplaced this. For all we know, the closet gnomes stole it. I needed to make one for my fiance's mom (pictured left), so I just made my mom another one. It's not exactly the same, as with all crafts, but close enough. My future mother-in-law actually wanted hers made into a brooch & she will most likely be wearing black.

Practice

{Trial Run: Spray Paint}

I found this pair of candle holders at Home Goods a couple of weeks after I purchased the cupcake tower. I am going to use these as part of my Halloween Party decor, but they needed a gothic makeover. Enter black spray paint. Since these beauties only cost $6 each, I thought that it would make good practice, as these are from the same designer as the tower. Following the advice of my readers, I sprayed 1 coat of primer, followed by 2 coats of shiny black spray paint. The result, a marvelously chic candle holder. I feel a little more confident doing the tower now.

My day in Wonderland

{A bridal shower fit for a Queen}

I promised pictures & here they are. I'm hoping to get a couple more from my MOH as soon as her laptop is back home from the computer hospital.

The tablescape was created by my MOH. She made the tablecloth & runner.

photo by Susan Gordon

Me with our best man's sisters. From left: Christina, Sherry, Me, Jennifer & Susan.

photo by Sherry Gordon

A tea party wouldn't be complete without a tea station. We used a mixture of teacups from my mom's collection & my set, comprised of vintage pieces and ones from Anthropolgie.

Flavors of orange spice, peach, earl gray & various black teas.

photo by Sherry Gordon

The amazing topsy-turvy cake made by my very talented MOH.

Favors for the guests: Eat Me cookies

The buffet of tea sandwiches and other delightful goodies. My mom is a magician in the kitchen.

We dined on sandwiches made of salmon & dill, crab meat in a baked crust, curry chicken salad and cucumber with cream cheese. There was also a berry fruit salad, Chinese chicken salad and a balsamic & caper pasta salad - plus puff pastries with butter & jam and sun-dried tomato pesto with pita. We also had a couple sangria (my favorite) and a champagne cocktail punch with peachschnapps, orange juice & fruit juice.

Thank you to everyone who made this day special for me. I truly enjoyed myself & loved all the thoughtful gifts.

Progress is good

Finally! The biggest stress of wedding planning since the venue hunt is over. We have the final headcount. I seriously thought this day would never come. So much drama. I would like to send a 'shout out' to my Mom for being very persistent with contacting those who didn't respond. And a word of advice for brides out there: Online RSVPs is better. You get them quicker. Plus, you can send an e-mail blast to all the late responders reminding them that the deadline has passed. I did this & I received 15 responses in one day. This Friday I'm taking a trip up to the Mitten Building with my mom & brother to finalize the reception decor, linens and pay the balance. This is the last major task as far as vendors go. I'm excited to see the end of the planning process and to move on to the marriage & the PARTY already!

P.S. -I'm a mess

I feel like I'm back in college (as far as being crazy busy). Some how chaos and a busy personal life has become the norm. Oh how I yearn for a lazy weekend morning, sipping my coffee or tea, wasting time on the internet. Or even playing video games & watching the latest Netflix rentals. And cooking! Oh how I miss cooking. We still won't have a cook top for at least another week. I might just have to hightail it to Trader Joes this week, even if it involves me making stuff in the microwave. I just can't handle eating out anymore. I never really noticed how much sodium is in restaurant food until I started eating it everyday. (leaves me so thirsty) Oh and future brother-in-law told me yesterday 'Steph, you look really really tired.' Yep. Yet I still stayed up until midnight designing & ordering invites for the Halloween party we're hosting, forgetting that I had to be at work an hour early because my final dress fitting is at 4pm today. I have to admit though, it was nice to do something creative again that isn't wedding related.

I spy hand fans

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I'm excited that I finally found a pic from a real wedding where the bridesmaids held hand fans during the ceremony. I wasn't sure if my girls would look awkward up there. Feeling reassured about it.

Finished & furnished

{Living Room}

We are still unpacking boxes, but so far we have 2 completely finished areas. The living room was very important as it contains to most furniture & really, we need a place to relax between unpacking. Plus, we have cable & internet again! Finally. I had to sneak a couple of posts in at work last week during my green screen renders.

{Master Bathroom}

I'm happy with how this turned out! Exactly what I saw in my mind. This green is so bold & fun! The only thing is I don't care for is the lighting. Fluorescent = Yuck. I'm wondering if they sell tube lighting that is soft white (anyone???). If not, eventually I'd like to put in some recessed lighting or vanity lights.

Brown paper packages

{Lovelies for my ladies}

I enjoy pretty packaging & giving personalized gifts. These are for my bridesmaids as a thank you for my shower.

I took plain brown paper bags & hand stamped them with decorative flourishes in white ink. I finished off with some jute packing twine & a pretty pearl monogram tag affixed with a pink paper flower. I love these letter tags because you can totally hang them up on your wall afterward.

Nestled inside are these adorable monogram teacups from Anthropologie.

I added hazelnut chocolates, coconut treats & the teapot coasters I found at Tuesday Morning back in December.

24 days

The List Remaining Projects: -CD programs: emboss covers, burn the mix, get inserts printed & assemble -Spray paint the cupcake tower -Favors: finish bag construction & stuff with tasty treats -Make escort/place cards for guests attending -Make petal cones -Make my mom a new hair flower (sadly the first one is MIA) Tasks: -Prepare ceremony run-down for rehearsal dinner -Give final head count to vendors -Seating arrangements -Visit the venue with my brother to discuss photo booth set-up and meet with on-site coordinator -Mail remaining balances to vendors -Meet with DJ to go over music selections and ceremony outline -2nd fitting -Purchase remaining table decor (woohoo 20% coupon from Michael's) -Confirm my beauty appointments for the day of ...I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh well. My bridal shower is this Saturday. I will be posting pics of course! And one of my friends is having a 30th birthday party later that evening. Plus, our new roommate is moving in. It should be a fun filled, but busy weekend.

A haunted housewarming

Perhaps I might have mentioned that Halloween is me & my fiance's favorite holiday. This is just one of the many reasons why we chose to get married in October. It's the best month. I was hoping to have a Halloween costume party again this year. Last year was our first time hosting one & we had a blast! It was unclear for a little while if this would be feasible (with the wedding & moving). But now that everything is settling down, I got the go ahead from my fiance & I'm full steam ahead in secondary party planning.

I'm crazy right? Trying to plan an elaborate soiree a week after we get back from our honeymoon. Regardless, I'm having fun coming up with the party theme. I'm thinking of doing something inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven. I'm not going to reveal too many details just yet, because some of my would be party guests read this blog & I don't want to totally ruin the surprise. But let me just say this - Martha Stewart, I like your style.

The longest weekend

We officially moved into our new home! And it was the longest, hardest move yet. We've slowly been moving boxes all week. I set up the kitchen & did a little cleaning beforehand. We rented a U-haul for the heavy furniture, which we moved on Saturday. We started at 9:00 am and didn't finish until 3:41 am. Seriously I don't know how we did it. After 2:00 am hit, I literally had to amp myself up for every trip up the 2 flights of stairs of our old apartment. I am really surprised I didn't break down crying from exhaustion (I do that sometimes) - Not to say I didn't have 1 or 2 mini complaint tantrums. In the end (at 4:30 when we were finally showered & off to bed) my fiance told me that he was very proud of how I handled the day. He said that most girls couldn't/wouldn't do what I did that day. That's kind of a big deal for me because generally, I'm a wuss. I am very thankful for our friends who pitched in to help - especially my brother-in-law. He helped us until the wee hours with his truck after the U-haul was due back. Plus I'm very grateful for having wonderful parents. They showed up at 9:30 am on moving day with coffee, doughnuts (my favorite: cake with white frosting & sprinkles!) asking what they can do to help. Also, on Friday we were both off work, so in between moving we took a trip to the jewelry store to finally pick out our wedding bands. The jeweler is modifying one of their bands to match my engagement ring & appraising the set as well. I've been nervous about not having the ring insured. My fiance is a little apprehensive about wearing a ring. He doesn't wear jewelry. But I suspect he'll get used to it. The rings will be ready in two weeks. I feel so naked without my e-ring - I can't wait to get it back.

A weekend in the city

me, Melissa & Lisa

{Bachelorette Weekend in San Francisco Recap}

Melissa (MOH), Lisa (bridesmaid) & I flew out of LAX Friday mid-morning. Unfortunately our flight was delayed an hour. We took the super shuttle to our hotel - The Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf. (I don't recommend taking the blue van shuttle. It took an hour to arrive at our hotel. The driver kept making u-turns to pick up more passengers. And it was very expensive) We met up with my friend Gina (other bridesmaid who lives in the city). Gina did an awesome job planning out a fun-filled weekend for us.

Gina & me at the Bubble Lounge

On Friday night, we dined on sushi then went to the Bubble Lounge for some cocktails. We reserved a booth for bottle service (Champagne of course!) with a couple of shots thrown in for good measure. After getting a little toasty (okay maybe more than a little) we headed downstairs for some dancing. We finished off the night with a slice of heaven at Golden Boy Pizza (by far, the best cheese pizza I've ever tasted!) This was probably the craziest night of the weekend - I actually stayed up until 3 am, which like never happens these days. Saturday morning we met for brunch at Circa for bottomless mimosas. I had their eggs benedict sampler, which was also delish. We spent the remainder of the afternoon shopping at boutiques (I purchased some fabulous stationary goods) & watching the sea lions at Fisherman's Wharf.

on the pier

Later that night we went to the View Bar at the Marriott for some pre-dinner cocktails. It didn't disappoint. The view was spectacular! It reminded me of something from Gotham City.

the View Bar

on the way to Cafe Claude

We dined at Cafe Claude while listening to some live jazz. The food was french cuisine. I swear, I was drunk off food. The flavors were so rich and amazing. I had grilled lamb & french onion soup. Of course we all had to have a bite of creme brulee.

we all joked: You only get one 'congratulation'

We planned on going to Bourbon & Branch (a speak-easy style lounge) after dinner, but unfortunately it was closed for a private party. By then it was midnight & I was still very full from dinner, so we called it an early night. After a good night sleep, we got up early and browsed some nearby shops at Fisherman's Wharf. I got some salt water taffy & delicious chocolate confections for my family (my fiance isn't big into sweets). Then we met Gina over at Crown & Crumpet - an adorable girly tea room in Ghirardelli Square. We ate tea sandwiches, fruit tarts & sipped the most amazing tea. I sampled the Paris tea (black tea infused with bergamot & vanilla). It was such a lovely weekend and I was glad that we could all get in on a little bonding time before the wedding.

Lovely board

Forgive my re-post, but I just loved this gorgeous inspiration board from Snippet & Ink. It encompasses the feel of my wedding with the gorgeous olive tones & rustic vintage flare.

Getting fitted

I met with the seamstress today after work for some minor dress alterations. Luckily since the dress is a corset style, I only have to take about 3 inches off the bottom & add a bustle. I'm doing a traditional style bustle & will be adding one of these shoe clips to the top as a brooch.

traditional style bustle

Standing there in my dress, I started to get little chills. With all the chaos right now it reminded me of something simple and true. I get to marry my very best friend. He will see me in this dress - and I can't wait to see his face when he does.

Oh and P.S. Alternations are going to cost $325. Not a total surprise, but still it kills me.

I'm back and it's busy

In the back: my maid of honor, 2 bridesmaids & me. In the front: new friends

My bachelorette weekend in San Francisco was fantastic. One of my bridesmaids who lives up there planned an amazing fun filled weekend. I left feeling very loved & grateful for the much needed break and girl time. I will be posting a more detailed recap of the weekend later. Today is very busy, as I need to unpack, catch up on e-mails & the fiance has giving me a list of things to do today before he gets off work at noon: 1) Shop for a new stove top range & dishwasher for the new house (shopping I can handle!) 2) Pack up the contents of 2 bookshelves Then later today, it's off to the new home to check out our new wood floors & assemble closet organizers. Oh fun!

She's crafty

{Bridal Shower Invites}

These are the adorable invites my MOH made for my shower. She is a scrapbooking queen. The design is so whimsical & fun - and I love the little silhouette of the white rabbit at the bottom. I seriously can't wait to see the rest of the things she's put together.

~:~:~:~:~:~:~

On a side note... me, MOH and bridesmaid are flying up to San Francisco (other bridesmaid's 'hood) for a bachelorette this weekend. I'm very excited to get away from all the stress of packing, moving & wedding planning - and spend it with my very best girls.

Mustache on a stick

{Photobooth Prop: Mustache on a stick}

I think the guests might have some fun with these in the photobooth. The ones on etsy sell for close to $20 a piece. Yikes! I made my own for $2.50 each using adhesive mustaches from a costume store, a candy stick (from craft store) & black card stock.

A good find

{Found: Classy cupcake stand}

This is what I found at Home Goods over the weekend. Gorgeous as is, but I'm thinking of possibly spray painting it black. I'm going to do a test patch underneath- just to see what it looks like. I'm thinking that this stand will hold about 50 cupcakes - just enough to give the cupcake table some height. I'll have the caterer sprinkle the remaining 50 around the stand.

Wow.

you should look at this wedding.

I'm kind of swooning over this wedding. Particularly how incredibly chic this bride looks. I've never seen anyone pull off this retro hairstyle without it looking like a helmet - but she looks gorgeous.