Name Change

I addressed the whole name change concerns awhile back and posted some information about how to change your name. Since then I have come across another document that is more comprehensive and is the holy grail of info for when you are getting ready to change your name. Hopefully someone will find it helpful, you can find it here.

Ribbons and Bands

Another invitation idea I am considering is skipping any sort of graphic and using a ribbon or band across the invitation. The ribbon can be horizontal or vertical and is normally close to one of the sides so that is pushes the text up, down, left or right. This idea would be possible using a simple word document and complicated computer skills or programs are not needed. However there would be the factor of assembly time to put the ribbons on each invitation.

These invitations with the tied ribbon are really pretty but I am not sure if I like this idea. Inevitably the carefully tied knot is going to get smashed in the mail so when it gets to the receiver it won't look nearly as nice as how you sent it. Also the knot will add bulk and all the pieces won't lay flat in the envelope which for someone like me who is slightly anal retentive that would drive me crazy.

I was unable to find any pictures of invitations with a flat ribbon that I would be willing to post as a good example. If you can imagine it a flat ribbon would be just like the band in the picture below. I have seen many in person and I think a flat ribbon looks just as nice as the fancy knots and bows.

They are Here!

Today was just like Christmas morning because when I opened up my email there was a special surprise wating for me, OUR ENGAGEMENT PICTURES! I was so excited I actually squealed out loud. As soon as I pick out some of my favorites I will be posting them to share with all of you!

DIY Birdcage Veil

It's been awhile since I have posted any DIY directions or tips. Earlier this year I posted about how to make a traditional veil but birdcage veils are also very popular. One of my MOHs (yes I am having 2) is getting married in February and plans to wear one. Realizing how much they cost most likely we are going to attempt to make her's. To make your own you can find directions here and here.

Small Graphic

Maybe instead of using one large graphic we could use the same graphic but at a much smaller scale. Instead of being a prominent part of the invitation it would be more of an accent piece. Here are some examples:

Screw the Dress

I want to know where to find those shoes!

For a pop of color I want to wear a pair of a bright, true purple shoes just like those under my dress! Here's hoping I can find something similar. Oh and if you do like the dress it's from the Reverie line by Melissa Sweet.

More

More pictures of invitations with one large graphic.

Back to Invitations

I have spent a bit of time away from thinking about invitations because we were so focused on getting ready for and taking our engagement pictures. Now it is time to really think about what we are going to do for invitations so that we aren't left scrambling last minute. For the most part I have decided to go with either the gate fold or flat invitation card. The only difference is that the gate fold has the flaps that cover the invite and will enclose the extra cards. The focus is now on design which is difficult because there are endless opportunities.

One idea I am considering is using a graphic/flourish that I have found. Originally I thought I was going to use damask but I don't have the software to properly manipulate damask graphics so instead using flourish fonts in power point seems to be my best option at this point. Here are some pictures of invites that use one main graphic on the invite.

Fall Bouquet

I have been busy this week and it finally caught up to me so now I am sick. Because of this I haven't been posting much but wanted to leave you with this gorgeous bouquet.

Of course I love this bouquet for two reasons because it is fall inspired and it incorporates purple and orange.

I DID IT!

I finally did it and bought my wedding dress! After a few months of contemplation and not willing to commit I finally bit the bullet and bought the dress. It was the second dress I tried on but I was determined to try on many more just to make sure. I thought the whole process of finding a dress was going to be unbearably painful but it really wasn't bad at all in fact I had fun! I can't post any pictures since Andy reads the blog so unfortuneatly you will all just have to wait for the wedding just like him.

Love It!

Gotta love those cool, fall wedding pictures.

Photo taken from Olivia Leigh Photography

Table Cloths

Would this table setting look good with white chair covers or does it need to have black chair covers?

Our reception venue provides white chair covers free of charge. The tables have black table cloths with white overlays and we get to choose whatever color napkin we would like. The drapes in the room are also black with white curtains. I was hoping to remove the white overlay and have just the black table cloth. Black chair covers aren't an option because well they cost a good deal more. But I am just not sure the white chair covers would look good with a black linen without the white overlay. What do you think?

Crazy Theories

This week I stopped by Barnes and Noble and flipped through the new Brides magazine. They have an article about how your lipstick can predict the kind of marriage you will have. Their claim is that the shape of the lipstick in the tube from how you put it on can be very telling. The article has pictures of lipstick shapes and what that says about your marriage. I am quite positive that the way I put on my lipstick has nothing to do with my relationship. Last time I checked a relationship had everything to do with the two people and not beauty products. I am wondering if the ladies at Brides are completely crazy?

Andy's Honeymoon Perspective

Tuesday after our engagement pictures we went out for dinner and made it a date night in the middle of the week. We were driving home and normally I start most wedding conversations but Andy just opens up with,"I have been thinking about the honeymoon. All I care about is that we go somewhere that we can be entertained, we aren't on a schedule, and we are able to have nice meals." I have to laugh a bit because of course from a guy's perspective the food is on the top of the list. Although he doesn't mean down-home, good ole country cooking but upscale five star dining. But I also totally get it. He wants to wine and dine and spend some quality time together. The big glitzy honeymoon is nice and part of me still wants it but at the same time going somewhere where we can just enjoy being married is the most important of all. If only we could find this magical place within all of our picky constraints.

Engagement Pictures, Check

Yesterday we took our engagement pictures and it was wonderful! We ended up with a sunny day and blue skies which was all we could ask for. It was a bit chilly but nothing unbearable and I was willing to freeze my butt off for good pictures. We actually were up for doing anything for the pictures because we were having fun! I was afraid Andy would think it was kinda stupid to have engagement pictures and wouldn't understand why we were doing it, but he loved it just as much as me.

Geri is an amazing photographer! Not only is she talented but she was just fun to be with. We get along really well and enjoyed spending close to two hours with her which is great since she will be spending our entire wedding day with us. In fact we probably could have just sat down with her to chat over a cup of coffee but that whole pesky taking pictures thing got in the way. We obviously can't tell you how the pictures look just yet but I have no doubts about them.

The only disappointment out of the whole experience was that there weren't any brilliant colored leaves on any trees which I was hoping for. But you can't control mother nature. Oh yeah and we were out there so long that it got too dark to take any more pictures otherwise we could have kept going. Maybe Geri will let us do this again before the wedding?

Invitation Styles

Since we aren't going to do a pocketfold we need to pick another style before getting started on designing anything. Here are the options I am considering:

The first style opens like a regular card but with a ribbon/paper band holding all of the inserts.

This style is just a flat card invite with inserts on top and all piece held together with a belly band.

This last style is a gate fold which has the two side flaps to fold down over the invite. All inserts are put inside on top of the invite and when the flaps are closed a belly band holds all the pieces together.

Getting Excited!

Yesterday I spent a good part of my day shopping for clothes for our engagement pictures. And I have to say I am getting excited, its like the feeling a kid gets on Christmas morning. I am still not sure what I am going to wear but my sister is coming over tomorrow to go through all the options I bought and it will turn out fine. In my excitement I visited my photographers blog as I do regularly to look at some of the engagement pictures she has taken in the past. Here are a few I could get my hand on:

Photos taken from Ciulla Photography

I should have this figured out by now

Tuesday we are having our engagement pictures. We should have already taken care of this by now but we have no idea what we are going to wear. I have seen hundreds of engagement pictures and some people dress up, some people dress down and some do both with multiple wardrobe changes. I am now worried about picking out one outfit and wondering if two outfits is really necessary. The point of the pictures is to get some shots of us in regular clothes so that we have some nice pictures other than those of us on our wedding day. I am just wondering is it really worth all the fuss?

Possibilities

Yesterday my sister and I finally gave in and officially went bridesmaid dress shopping. We want a cocktail or tea length dress that is flattering for all the girls. Mainly we seem to be leaning towards v-neck dresses. The main problem is finding a flattering style in a purple that I like. We found two possibilities which are within a reasonable price range and the style should work. The problem is that they only come in the colors eggplant or concord which in person seem a bit too dark for me. I am hoping for something more vibrant but will settle for a wearable style over color. We are going to keep looking but will keep these as viable options.

This dress is from After Six and I couldn't get a picture in the correct color. The other dress I couldn't find a picture to post but you can see it if you go here.

NYC?

We are considering to scrap the whole beach honeymoon idea and instead do something within driving distance. My favorite place in the entire world is New York City. I love love love the city. Every time I go I don't want to leave and I never have enough time to do everything I want. Originally I shot down the idea of an NYC honeymoon because I want to do something relaxing and felt in New York we would be on the go too much. But then when we were realizing that flying to a tropical location might be out I thought maybe we could just spend a week exploring the city at our leisure, dine out, and just enjoy being there without rushing around. I am not at all sure if driving there is a reality or not since it is somewhere around 10-11 hours. I was thinking there might be some sort of detour we could take on the way there and back that might cut up the drive into two parts, but who knows.