guest book trial

Don't mind the messy box and junk surrounding this, but here is an example of what we want the guest book table to look like:

The framed tree will be leaned up against the wall and leaves scattered in front of it.  The frame will have a note directing folks to choose a leaf to sign with the silver pen,  and then simply drop it in the glass jar.  Then after the wedding we'll put the leaves in the tree and have a nice little house decoration!  here's what it would look like completed:

ceremony aisle

We found these silver pails from target in their dollar section...

We're going to use them up the aisle during the ceremony.  We'll put one hydrangea in each one.  We practiced by cutting a hydrangea from my parents garden.

First we put a plastic bag in the pail (so water doesn't leak out) then we placed the hydrangea stem in the oasis flower foam and placed it in the bag with water.

We did this practice one (below) on Saturday and here it is Monday and the flower is still going strong.  Another project that can be done a couple days before that's simple.  The hydrangea that we will use for the wedding would be white/green though:

boutonnieres

We did a trial run on the boutonnieres this weekend.  plucked the herbs from my parents garden and gathered together.

Not bad for a first try!  The tape would be green and possibly covered with ribbon.  The practice ones are in the fridge now to see how long they would last... that way we can do them a couple days before the wedding. We'll take them out in a couple days and see not only what they look like while kept in the fridge, but then keep them out for a day to see how they last if they were pinned on someone.

we'll have more herbs in the bouts when we really do them too...

bathroom basket

We collected materials for the bathroom basket and went to my parents place put that together this past weekend.  There would be one basket placed in the ladies and mens room.

These bathroom baskets are filled with toiletries and can save the day for one or more guests.  In the women's basket we have spray on deoderant, body spray, hair spray, lotion, brush, q-tips, mouthwash, pads, band-aids, sewing kit, floss, off spray (mosquitos), itch spray, tums, tylenol, lip gloss, etc.  The mens basket is obviously a bit different.

menu cards

I'm thinking about doing some menu cards for every other seat at the table. Just a way for folks to know what they are/are about to eat.  These cards would be tucked into the napkin fold.  Trying to figure out which color style would be best in the navy napkins... and also which swirly icon things to use...

on the other side of this card I may print out a photo scavenger hunt list with ideas of things for folks to take pictures of... for example:

Camera Scavenger Hunt:

If you have your camera please scavenge around 
Hunt for those pictures that need to be found! 
Shoot away and complete the list, 
Find moments that the Photographer may have missed. 

Table 1

___ Group photo of everyone at your table
___ Photo of each family or couple
___ Group photo of the table next to yours
___ Bride and Groom holding hands
___ Groom watching bride from distance
___ Matron of Honor making a toast
___ Bride and Groom’s first dance
___ Bridal Party entering the reception

Table 2

___ Group photo of everyone at your table
___ Photo of each family or couple
___ Group photo of the table next to yours
___ Child under a table
___ Groom playing with ring
___ Person who’s known the Groom the longest
___ Groom dancing with his mom
___ Bride and Groom’s first dance
___ Wedding cake

Table 3

___ Group photo of everyone at your table
___ Photo of each family or couple
___ Group photo of the table next to yours
___ Groom watching bride from distance
___ Groom and/or Bride laughing
___ Best man making a toast
___ Biggest smile
___ Bride and Groom cutting the cake

card box completed

This took all of 5 minutes to do...  just added a place card and ribbon.... and here is our card box....

Program Project

Currently working on some simple program fans.  I am thinking we'd probably put one on every other chair at the ceremony.
These are easy to put together... I have a template for the shape of the panels, then just print off from our home computer, then have to cut the panels out (the most time consuming part), then I punch a 1/8" hole at the bottom and put brads in the hole to enable the panels to move around. badda bing badda boom.

I just can't decide if it should be color on just the two end pieces..... or alternate color....

bridesmaid hair flowers

Here are some hair thingies I'm going to have the girls wear in their hair.  They are pale green hydrangea on bobby pins. Each one is about 1-1 1/2 inches. The flowers will have a pearl in the middle rather than the rhinestone pictured below...

The girls would have 3 or less in their hair...

Table Numbers

I worked on our table numbers the other day.   I had a bunch of silver frames already so I though we can just put them to use.  I cut down some card stock that I already had, but it in the frame, then glue gunned a wood number that I painted right on to the card stock.  I was simple and cheap and ended up looking like I hoped... and it was so quick and easy to do...

Trivia Cards

We were thinking of making some trivia cards for the cocktail hour.  These cards would be placed around on the tables at cocktail hour and hopefully help entertain the guests or at least get some conversation going.  The cards would be trivia about Scott and I as well as wedding tradition/superstition questions.  We'd make about 50 different questions and have a small handful on each table.  We love games, so though this would be a subtle and simple way to include something fun.

ceremony decor

For ceremony decorations I was thinking about maybe doing something like this... hydrangeas in a simple container either hanging off the end chairs or placed on the ground next to the chair....  it would be white hydrangeas instead of the purple pictured here though.    then i figured once the ceremony was over they can be placed on the pathway from the house to the tent or at other places during the reception.

ornament

I found a seller on Etsy that makes some pretty cheap customizable ornaments the other week.  So I contacted them to make one for us to have for holidays to come.  I just had to give them a few facts about us and then they put them all around the ornament

just thought it would be a cute keepsake to have and bring out every Christmas!

reserved seating

I've been working on "reserved seating" cards for the ceremony seats.  Just used some left over card stock and ribbon I had on hand.  I'm making the cards for all the "VIP" seats and they would be tied on the seat backs.  

Here's an example of one that I made:

I got this idea after seeing someone selling them online. Below is what the cards look like when on the chairs (this is what i based my cards off of)  Below they were selling them for $4.20 each... the one's i made (above) only cost 30 cents each:

hair accessories

I don't think I'm going to be wearing a veil.  I think that expensive purchase that I would be wearing for 30 minute max is a little unnecessary.  Instead I plan on wearing a hair flower clip/pin instead. This would be something I'd wear the entire evening.   Here's an example of one that I liked.  It's made from the same material as my dress...

shoe shopping

I've been browsing for shoes to wear and I haven't been too picky about them.  I figured since my dress will be covering my feet, not too many people are going to see them anyways.  I've been looking for some simple styles that are wedding-ish... but that I could dye to a different color once the wedding is over and use for other formal occasions.   Here's one that I ordered to try on.  The site that i ordered from has free return shipping/exchanges... so if they don't work for my tootsies I can easily send back for a refund or exchange.

other styles that  I was considering:

Hair/Makeup

Here's an example of what I'm hoping to have my make-up and hair look like.  

The first picture is an example of my hopeful makeup.  I of course don't want to look like a clown... I want it to look romantic and pretty with a pop of the eyes and natural colored lip, but still resemble myself. 

For hair I'm looking to do a loose half up/half down style.  My hair is actually naturally wavy and I plan on keeping the side bangs I have now... so I think this look will work.  I'm hoping to get these kind of loose wave (no tight curls or ringlets!)  just something soft and not too over the top.

Time to get our workout on!

With 5 1/2 months left to the wedding, we figured we better get a move on to look our best!  We joined a gym last week and we've been going every day since.  I personally currently weigh the most I ever have in my life, so I want to trickle down to a healthier weight.  Scott is tired of being out of breath and wants to be more active and drop some pounds as well.

Right now we usually head to the gym after dinner (and on the weekends it's around lunch time).  Scott hits the free weights and I hit the weight machines for strength buildings.  I'm hoping to tone up my arms so they aren't so jiggly!   After our weight lifting stuff I head over and do a hour worth of stuff on the cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical, and bike for 20 min each).  Scott heads over to the basketball court and plays a few games with other members.

We're also taking a closer look at our portioning and eating habits.  So far we've made it a goal not to eat past 7pm and have cut our dinner portions in half of what they use to be.  Our trips to the grocery store have been a change too as we're packing our basket with more healthier options too.

Here's hoping our weight drops over these next few months with these efforts!

honeymoon

Our honeymoon spot (this is the hotel in Bora Bora)!  We have a trip booked to Moorea/Bora Bora starting a couple days after our wedding.  We are pumped!

Bands

Here's a sneak peak at our wedding bands!

Door Wreaths

Here's a good find I found online... there would be two of these wreaths on the front door of the venue...  it's dried hydrangea and it would be mostly green stems...