Updates...

With less than 90 80 days to go....there are so many things to share with you all! In the next day or so I plan on updating some of the goings-on around "wedding central". Here is a preview of what's on deck...

1. Invitations  done.
2. Vanilla Extract Favors
3. Aisle runner
4. Votive Candle Holders
5. Tuxedos
6. Groomsman Gifts
7. Music Selections
8. The DJ
9. Cash Bar vs Open Bar?!
10. The Cake!

Invitations are d-o-n-e done!

Used on the inner RSVP SASE.

PHEW!! Happy that is over...everything has been addressed, stamped, mailed off! The whole invitation process was a real pain in the butt! We have a total of 138 guests invited (more if kids are counted)...somehow more than we anticipated.

A side not for DIY couples that are on a tight budget...

If you are trying to save on the cost of stamps, do not add ANYTHING to your invitation that alters the "shape" of the envelope. Let me give you a for instance...if you purchase a invitation "kit" where everything is included and all that is needed is to print the invitations and RSVP cards on your home printer...do not add any rhinestones to the invites to make it more festive or even a simple ribbon around the invitation. Unless of course you are ready to pay more for your stamps.

We were very careful not to add anything "unnecessary" to the invitations - maps, accommodations, etc - that could be easily sent out via email at a later date. This was to keep the weight of the invites down. We had no idea that the hours of hand gluing rhinestones on to the invites would render them "unmachinable" thus jacking the stamp from 44 cents to 64 cents. OH WELL! I won't lie...Michelle and I stood in the line at the post office and contemplated pulling off all the rhinestones...but we instantly got over it.

Here is a peak at the stamp we selected...

Used on the outer envelope

Bridesmaid Dresses

Well...it seems that it is official! I am getting word from Michelle that the bridesmaid dresses have been ordered (or are in the process of being ordered at this moment). Not the dress that Michelle originally had in mind nor the color. This is actually working to our advantage. Though the original color was cognac (like a rust or copper color), the new color is fern (a sort of olive green...more green than yellow) which is much easier to match with decorations and the like. Not to mention it is just an awesome looking color. Michelle will have to fill you all in on a future post on the finer details. But what I do know is this style of dress was just sent to the clearance rack for $79 (down from $150 I believe). Just another example of Michelle saving money...
(I think I am going to start a running total page...be on the lookout for that in the near future.)

Thank You

Just a quick thanks to everyone that has stopped by and checked in on our progress. After starting this blog just under 2 weeks ago, we have broken the 300 view mark and are gaining new visitors everyday! I am a bit of a stats junkie. It has been fun watching the trends...at the moment the DIY Pew Bows is the most visited posting with an average time spent on page approaching 6 minutes! I hope this means that we have helped some folks out there. 

Anyways, stay tuned! There are more posts to come soon..

Name Change...

Michelle is stressing about having to change her name, officially. She changed her name on Facebook years ago, but now the realization, I think, has started to set in. Really, as the man, I never really put much thought into what has to be done and all the hoops that need to be jumped through. Michelle found this little graphic that made us both laugh.

To all of the brides out there: I feel sorry for you.

To all of my fellow grooms: thank god it's them that have to change their name. LOL

The Flower Girl Dresses

Michelle made her way to JC Penneys again....this time on the hunt for flower girl dresses for Trinity and Payton. She struck gold!!

After sale price and two coupons...the dresses cost us $50 for both! Great find and even better price!

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The Guest Book

Michelle and I have been looking for alternative guest book ideas. We have played with several possibilities, including covering a plain guest book with fall leaves. Though it was nice, we were not impressed and felt that it did not fit our personalities. At the end of the day, we have come to the realization that the guest book as we all know it is old, tired, and boring. We asked ourselves how often will we actually drag out the guest book and flip through it? Once? Twice? Never.

Stock Photo - with a little addition :P

Michelle found a pretty cool spin on the guest book that does fit our "fall themed" wedding perfectly. It is the Wedding Tree! The concept is simple; there is a tree printed on canvas, ink pads of various "fall" colors, and a pen. Allow me to explain further...

Stock Photo

Stock Photo

Guests will find a large canvas with a tree painted on it where the traditional guest book would usually be found. Next to the "tree" the guests will find various colors of ink pads that they can choose from. Then they can ink up their thumb (or any finger) and press it on to the tree. Finally they can pick up the pen and sign their name under their "leaf". Like I said...simple concept.

Stock Photo

Stock Photo

We did find an awesome website that will allow you (for a limited time) request a pdf template be sent to you customized for your wedding - totally free! So we did...and this is what they sent us...

We plan on sending this PDF to Kinkos to print for us, then we will affix it to the canvas. Once we get this done we will be posting to show how it turned out. I will also post a link to the website where you can get your own custom PDF file created in the resource tab (if I ever get that put together). 

What you think of the Tree Guest Book? We would love to hear your feedback...