Save the Date

We're planning on sending the Save the Dates by the end of the year...with the engagement pics.

Here's the card that we're going to send.

They're $119 for 75 or $128 for 100

Photography Information

So, Eddie's mom works with this photographer's wife, and she offered to pay for the photographer and videographer as well.

After talking with the photographer (after a 1.5 hour conversation!), here are the details that I got:

$2000 which includes the engagement session and wedding day.  There are private passworded galleries with all the pictures, a public gallery for the guests, and discs of pictures (probably 3-4K) with a folder of 100-150 touched up pix.  There is no album for the cost, but that can be talked about after the wedding.  Apparently the albums start at $1000, and so most brides save up to get that done afterwards?...

One week before the wedding, they will go to check out the church and reception venue.
The day of the wedding, their official start time is 11, but they will probably be out and about a little earlier.
They'll stay through the end of the reception, there is no set time frame they'll be shooting.

And pictures will be done within 3-4 weeks. 

Redlands Tennessee Florist

After putting the deposit on Tennessee Gardens, Eddie's mom, dad, and I went to the on-site florist Sandie White of Redlands Tennessee Florist.  She actually was closing up shop early because it was her 11th wedding anniversary, but she was around long enough to sit with Eddie's mom and I to talk flowers (Eddie's dad took off after being given the go ahead from Eddie's mom as he lumbered bored in the store :) ).

For 12 centerpieces, 2 alter arrangements, 10 pew bouquets, 8 corsages, 10 boutonnieres, a bridal bouquet, three bridesmaids bouquets, one jr bridesmaid bouquet the grand total was $1257.15.

The flowers to be used include: hydrangeas (purple for me, white for the girls), lisianthus (bluish-purple), orchids (dendrobiums and the pink/purple ones, but I want to ask about vandas and phalaenopsis - she didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I asked about them), and freesia.

This vanda orchid looks really cool, but apparently is endangered.

Lisianthus

Freesia

I also want to ask her about this blue/purple orchid:

Not sure if this is natural or painted...but will find out...

The booking of a venue

So Eddie's parents and I are headed to Tennessee Gardens to book the venue, well I'll be booking while they're looking :) Once we get this done, I'll get on booking the photographer. Eddie's mom would like us to take engagement photos to include in the save the dates to send out.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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...

Groom's Cake

So I've been watching that show Amazing Wedding Cakes...and boy do they have some Amazing Wedding Cakes!  Though the really cool ones are the groom's cakes.

I wonder if I could do this...

I'd wanted to do some kind of cool groom's cake...was thinking of something along the lines of a Wild Turkey bottle or Simpsons or... I don't know... in Funfetti.

Simpson cake toppers are at least $70!
I'd DIY it...find some figures,
make some clothes...

Maybe we could serve it at the rehearsal dinner.

Gifts from Singapore

Thanks to Jillee and Levi for getting me a cute purple cheong sam to wear for the tea ceremony!  There's even a matching bag!  :) 

I need to find someone who can alter it (though maybe closer to the still tentative wedding date).

Will post pictures soon...