10 June 2011
02 June 2011
Reception Decor
Check and check, and cheques and cheques!
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! :)
01 June 2011
Engagement Pictures Take 2
We decided to take the pictures at UCR's Botanic Gardens because we hadn't been able to take them there the first time we went, and because that's where our "first date" was.
We ended up being a little early, so I dropped Eddie off at the Gardens to scout out some picture taking places. I went to meet Allan and the team at the Starbucks by campus. When Allan arrived, he started telling me about the kind of pictures and poses he was going for this time: something softer and quieter. Perfect! After a stop for coffee (the guys were coming off two weddings over the weekend, one of which was Tony's cousin!)
Headed to the Gardens and started taking pictures. Two other team members (Christian and Matt) joined Allan Jay and Tony. Matt became the DJ playing various mood music. :) Because we weren't doing a lot with the lighting, keeping it mostly with natural lighting, it was a little disconcerting to have four cameras pointed at us at various times. But the guys were fun and there was a lot of chatter back and forth which helped me feel more comfortable.
Over all, a very enjoyable couple hours and I think it shows in the gorgeous pictures Allan Jay posted.
So here are some from Triversity Wedding Photography's blog.
27 May 2011
Best Co-Workers Ever!
I have such sweet co-workers! Lexi brought this over for me after our conversation yesterday about my hair for the wedding!
25 May 2011
Dress fittings
Isn't she lovely?
Isn't she wonderful?
Isn't she precious?
(but definitely more than one minute old)
Reception Program/Menu
Revised Ceremony Programs
So I've rearranged the program to be more book style rather than the elongated sheet from yesterday.
I'm trying to decide between three names centered or aligned to the initials.
I'm also trying to decide whether or not to keep the inner pages together or to cut them apart.
If they're stuck together I have to tie them on with ribbon or something.
If they're apart, I'll punch the corners.
24 May 2011
Seating Arrangements: Take 1
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.
Ceremony Program
I want to keep our design fairly simple - one page (if double sided). I'm debating the use of ribbon (because that means someone is going to have to tie these ribbons!) vs. a square with our initials gluing the two layers down. Another ribbon option sans the tying of a thousand little bows would be like the second picture, where it's pulled through to have two loose, but not necessarily tied into a bow. In such an instance the loose ends would be much shorter, probably where my finger is pinching the ribbon.
I'm partial to two layers as I've always liked the vellum paper (as anyone who has seen past invitations I've made can tell you) - hence the need for the ribbon or paper anchor. One design I've come up with has the wording printed on the vellum, over a white cardstock with our initials printed in the center. I've also bought a corner punch with various designs to cut out of the corners of the white page.
I'm also playing around with a no vellum option. It would have our initials at the top, then the wording underneath with the corners cutoff to avoid being too plain. The colors of the no vellum option would be mostly purple, as the cardstock would be on a purple base. The hint of teal would be in the initials at the top of the page.
Before I can complete the programs, I would also have to figure out the songs and such for the ceremony, and I would have to know the schedule of events ... unity candle, bouquet for Mary, etc...
Bouquet for Mary
22 May 2011
Feathered Frenzies
Unfortunately, the feathers are proving a little more fractious than I anticipated... I can't seem to get them to stay flat, or rather they're too flat -to the point if dicing straight out when I need then to curve around the bracelet into a nice, tame cuff of eyes.
I also need to scrounge up the black it dark brown head band that would camouflage into my girls' hair better than the reddish tortoise shell one that I currently an using for my prototype.
I also have decided feathers never again as all the little hairs and now all over, despite a good sweeping.
20 May 2011
To add more to my plate...
So I've been playing around with the idea of these tissue paper pom poms to hang from either the trees or the strings used for lights above the grassy area (where the tables would be). I'm not sure if they would still look okay even without the lanterns with them...
The poms are pretty easy to make; I watched a video with Eddie's cousin the other evening. All I need is different colored tissue paper (anywhere from 8-14 sheets depending on how puffy I want them) and a pipecleaner to bind it together.
I thought that the poms would be a nice addition of color and flowery shapes to the garden (which I fear pales in comparison to the gardens at the Huntington Library that we saw on Saturday). I think I'd go with purple, teal (if we can find it) and white pom poms - each pom one color, not multicolored poms. I'm pretty sure I can go to Kohls and get a few packs of the colorful tissue paper to try it out. I just need some pipe cleaners from Michael's or Joann's.
19 May 2011
Bracelet idea
Got a bracelet at Kohls (thanks Dad for those $10 coupons) for $0.04.
Got the feathers from my 400 pack.
The problem I'm having is that peacock feathers aren't as small as these other feathers...so only two or three fit, but even then it's overlapping or haning off the sides. I'm not sure how it will look or if the feathers will fall nicely... I'm going to try to get it done this weekend.
PS Just read somewhere that brides are moving away from the matchy-matchy jewelry/accessories for their bridesmaids. Look at us on the cutting edge of all things wedding... ;)
On the Nature of Blogs, Wedding Photography, Customer Service, and the Bomb Dot Com
18 May 2011
Check and check
07 May 2011
06 May 2011
To Do!!!
- organize and order the photobook which will serve as a guest book (hopefully before the 8th because I have a coupon for a photobook for 30% off, and I do enjoy using my coupons whenever I can)
- contact the DJ at some point (and have a list of songs that we will want for different things)
- contact the bakery to let them know which flavors and design we want FOR SURE on the cake
- contact the venue to see if they have the table card holders; if not, find somewhere that I can buy/rent them
- ask Uncle Mike to help me design numbers for each table
- plan and design the programs
- buy and make the programs
- contact the music people at church for ceremony music
- put together a PPT with the readings/songs/etc. for people to follow along at Mass
- contact people at church about access to the projector for the PPT during the wedding...
- pick up Mei's dress
- finish bridesmaids gifts
- find/make a bracelet
- finish the headband/hairpiece
- BEAD MY DRESS
- get my dress altered
- bedazzle my shoes (not really bedazzle, just needs a little something)
- invitations for church people invited to the ceremony but not the reception
- decide on favor bags and get them ordered; order ribbon too
- bake sugar cookies
- make pineapple tarts
- wrap favors
- buy candles for the hurricane lanterns and perhaps votives to put around hurricane lanterns (I wonder if we could line the hurricane lanterns with those irridescent glass stones...
- plan and buy supplies needed to make the 8 centerpieces (vase, orchid stems, etc?)
- finalize menu and caterer
- contact the videographer about the slideshow
- find a limo driver
- assign jobs for day of wedding stuff (who is picking up the flowers, who is bringing the flowers back to the reception venue, who is picking up the green curry, who is driving us to the hotel, etc. etc. etc.)
25 April 2011
Bridal shower invites
Beck, Fredster, and Jillee working on my (bridal) shower invitations. They're so pretty! LoL, Jillee asked what bath products to bring: soap, shampoo, or conditioner.
Gotta remember to check my spreadsheet to get the additional addresses to Margie ee ee
Only five more weekends :)
I wonder if I should try to schedule the hair/make up trial for the morning of the shower, or if there will be too much going on.
22 April 2011
Ayiee!
20 April 2011
Lessons I've learned from now completing two purses...
1. A little glue goes a long way
2. There are strings of sequins already seen together that could cut down on hours of work
3. Measure twice, cut once
And most recently:
4. Don't iron on strengtheners until after lining has been sewn on
19 April 2011
Garment District Beading Expedition
On Saturday, Auntie Amy, Joy ee ee, Mum, and I headed out to LA to find some beads and sequins to balance out the niniji flowers on my dress. :) We ended up at Berger's Beads and found many of the beads and sequins I needed to match the dress. After much squinting and measuring (yay for Joy ee ee's tape measure), we were able to find the large teardrop pearl beads, the (what ended up being) Swarorski flat backed sew on crystal beads, the clear seed beads, the clear and white sequins (though one was French cup and one was flat, and they were both supposed to be flat), and the silver cylinder beads. The most expensive were the Swarorski crystals, and it turns out that we might have needed to get more (Mum was looking at the configured patterns and there are A LOT more crystal beads than what we first thought)...but I think we'll work with what we've got first.