Check and check, and cheques and cheques!

Eddie and I spent yesterday afternoon making final payments at Tennessee Gardens and (hooray, hooray) the food!  We were also planning on taking care of the flowers, but she was closed, so I'll go after school today.

So we started at Tennessee Gardens to make the final payment.  We sorted out the AV equipment (through the DJ), picked the linens (plum sheer overlay over ivory, plum napkins), checked out the hurricane lanterns again (need about 2 handfuls of the glass stones, will also be using the mirrored rounds, and votives on every table), got the ok to hang things from the trees (my puffs!), and worked out the proof of licensing for the restaurant.  We had a little hiccup as far as the appetizers, which on our paperwork said was included, but when we were going over the paperwork, she said that it was only provided if we were getting it catered there.  This sent me into a little panic because we then wouldn't have any appetizers except for two eggrolls per person!...  But when we went home, Eddie checked the paperwork and called Michelle back, who eventually said that she would provide it...  But now I'm a little panicked because I hope she's written this down somewhere and it doesn't come to the day of the wedding and there are no appetizers!

After Tennessee Gardens, Eddie hopped on the horn again and talked with the lady at Benjarong and got us another fabulous deal.  We went to pay it off, and enjoyed the yam neur and and a bowl of tom kha kai while we were there.  I'm super excited that we're having Thai food at the wedding! :)

Seating Arrangements: Take 1

So Eddie's started organizing the guests into tables.  He's started on his family/friends list first.  After organizing most of them, he's informed me that he has some tables with 9 filled spots and 1 opened... Uhhh... who is that lone random person going to be?!??  When I asked him how he'd like it if he were at a wedding and the one random person at a table of 9 other people somehow related, and he said he'd understand it coming from where we are...and that if I want the headache of fixing it all it's all mine.  Gee thanks!  Grflghbrgh

So, I'm going to tackle that headache...and then I have to redo the programs because Eddie's "constructive" (insert sarcastic tone) criticism was the program I showed him was weird.  Weird.  I'll show him weird!...  Grrr.  Sorry, feeling slightly (a little more than slightly) aggravated.

Tennessee Gardens Revisited

On Saturday, we went to Tennessee Gardens to see the set up for 250 guests. 

Eddie said that he would want to see more flowers decorating the place...that there aren't enough flowers in the garden.  He did agree that we could easily add ribbon or lanterns or whatever to decorate the place.  I was thinking that at least that's a little less than what we would have to add at Etiwanda Gardens.

Here's the set up of Tennessee Gardens for 250 guests...

Entertainment

At Rhino and Ashley's wedding they had Hawaiian and Tahitian dancers as a form of enterntainment, followed by the DJ.

Esther and Oscar had mariachis, a banda (live band), and a DJ (interchangeably with the banda)

Eddie wants a steel drum guy and is tossing around the idea of a reggae band.

Family Theme

Since I'd like to go with a theme about family, here are some ideas for the reception:

1. Cookie favors
2. Tree with pictures of family, esp. weddings of parents/grandparents
   
3. Slide show with pictures - which Jessica has so kindly offered to do :)
4. Family style serving of food? - instead of a buffet (250 people going through a buffet may take a looooong time) or American service style (plates prepared in the kitchen brought out by waiters), platters of food brought out and put on the tables. Problems: not much space on tables for other decorations/centerpieces
5. Orchids in the flowers kind of add a touch of Singapore?
6. Tea ceremony

Other ideas on incorporating family?

How about something to do with the table toppers (those numbered placards that label each table)? Pictures?

Some sort of quotes on the invites/programs? Should we even do programs? Not very green.

Guest Book Ideas from The Knot

How it's done: Think about the stories and sentiments you'd like to read (and revisit) most and have cards printed with these type of questions (like "who are you happiest to see today?"). Spread them out on a table next to a big glass bowl where guests can drop their completed cards. Whatever you do, make sure to include a space for guests to sign and date them.

Tip: The key to getting good responses? Do not make your guests feel as if they're doing a homework assignment. Stick to one or two fun-to-answer questions per card:

• How did you first meet the bride and groom?
  
• When did you know they were in love?
  
• What's the secret to a great marriage?
  
• Can you share a funny memory about the bride and/or the groom?

Other ideas for questions we could ask in the guest book?

Branch Out

What it is: Just about anything, including tree branches, can serve as an easel for your guests' sweet sentiments.

How it's done: Purchase a small sapling from a local nursery or take a piece from an existing tree with sentimental value (like a willow tree in your parents' yard), and plant it in a decorative pot. Cut paper flowers from card stock and have guests sign the blossoms and attach to the tree's branches with ribbon. To make hanging a breeze, punch a hole in each card and loop a ribbon through. Double knot it to make a loop that can easily slip on the branches. At the end of the night, you'll have a tree in full bloom. After the event, gather the blossoms in a book, and for those who used a real sapling, plant the tree that has now been anointed with the loving and supportive words of your guests.

Not so sure that we'd want the real tree to plant...probably because I'd end up killing the poor thing... I wonder what we'd make the tree out of? Actual branches? Michael's fake flower stuff?

Green Note: Save space and paper by doubling the guest book cards as escort cards. On the back of each guest's calligraphed table card, print, "A note to the newlyweds." Place a pen at every place setting (favor idea!) so guests know to fill them out.

I like this idea to reuse the "escort cards" - escort cards being those cards that tell you where to sit? Maybe we could combine the note to the newlyweds on the back of the escort cards with the questions from the first guest book idea?

Supplies we'd need:

• Cards with printed questions and table assignments
• Ribbon to hang cards
• Pens