Cocktail Hour Playlist

As I said before, Philip and I are rockin' an iPod wedding.  I've been working on a few playlists over the past few nights.  I'm really excited for our cocktail hour playlist.  I tried to pull from multiple generations while still choosing music that Philip and I like.  I also wanted the music to be upbeat, but not too fast.  I'm not even sure if that makes sense!  Anyway, here's what I came up with:

Elvis - Burning Love

Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried

Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville

The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup

Coldplay - Green Eyes

Barry White - My First, My Last, My Everything

Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

Tom Petty - Learning to Fly

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

Gary Allan - Right Where I Need To Be

Live - Hold Me Up

Brad Paisley - She's Everything

The Fray - Over My Head (Cable Car)

Zac Brown Band - Whatever It Is

Gary Allan - Best I Ever Had

George Strait - I Cross My Heart

MC Chris - Fett's Vette

Some of these have meaning for us.  George Strait was our first date.  Whatever It Is is the song that Philip dedicated to me on a rough day early on in our relationship (he tells me that it reminds him of me).  Others are just fun (Build Me Up Buttercup, Burning Love).  The last one is my little addition for Philip.  He's a Star Wars nerd and I think he'll get a kick out of it.  ;)  I may have to find a censored version so that I don't offend anyone though!  

Well, what do you think?  

DIY Reserved Signs

After work today, I sat down and knocked out a really simple DIY project: the reserved signs for the ceremony.  I wanted to make sure that there isn't any confusion as to where people are supposed to sit... well, I don't care about most people, but the parents, grandparents, and siblings will all have reserved seating.  

These were super simple.  I designed the signs themselves in Publisher.  Then I print 3 to a sheet of ivory paper.  I cut them out and then attached them to a piece of multicolored cardstock.  Then, I attached that to a piece of navy cardstock.  I used double-sided tape to put all of it together.  Piece of cake! 

Chalkboard Inspiration

When I first started looking for wedding inspiration, I came across a bunch of really, really cute chalkboard ideas. 

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I really love them.  However, I didn't want to have to deal with the mess.  I really don't like the feel of chalk and I knew it would end up all over.  Besides that, I have atrocious handwriting.  I didn't even want to think about how much time it would take me to write out all of our guests' names for a seating chart.  Especially since I knew I would hate it in the end and have to start all over again (I really do not like my handwriting).  I wanted it to be beautiful; not half-ass.  

So, I put that idea out of my mind.  Then, a few weeks ago, I was catching up on some blog stalking on WeddingBee and came across a post from Miss Bunting.  She works for a printing company, so she designed a chalkboard background and is doing her seating chart on a poster.   No mess and I can pick a font that I like!  GENIUS!!  I can't believe I didn't think of it before!  I'm quite the amateur graphic designer!  ;)

Anyway, Miss Bunting even uploaded her chalkboard background file.  So, it's that much easier!  I just love it!  Here is what hers looked like (before she had entered all of the information):

SPECTACULAR!  I love it.  I already downloaded her helpful file and started inputting information (the people that I know will be there).  I downloaded the Eraser Dust font that she suggested from Dafont.  I looked around for different chalk fonts, but I liked that one the best.  

I will also be using faux chalkboard signs for the bar signs and the buffet signs.  I can't wait to see how it all looks!  I think everything will come together nicely in the vintage chic look that I'm going for.  :)

Meet our DJ

No, not the handsome man in the photo... the Bose SoundDock 10.  Yep.  We will be rockin' an iPod wedding reception.  

I know that some people have done this with great success and others have failed miserably.  I am going to try to make our reception to be the former.  ;)

Philip has wanted a Bose for a long time.  So, instead of spending several hundred dollars on a DJ that we will use once, we bought the Bose (on sale, I might add) so that we can use it even after the wedding.  Actually, we bought it in September and we've used it a lot since then!  It sits in our living room and I use it while cooking, cleaning, and while just hanging out.  

It's actually pretty awesome.  And it can be really loud!  So, we know there won't be any issues with sound for the big day!  The only issue is that I have to come up with all of our music.  But, I'm not seeing this as a huge problem.  It just means that we will know for sure that we will like all of the music being played at the reception!

I've been thinking for months about what music should be played.  I've already got a list started of the oldies (but goodies) I want played.  However, the main part of the work will be done in the month before the wedding.  I want to make sure that the songs I pick for the wedding are still going to be popular and not already overplayed!  

It should be interesting.  Wish me luck!  :)

THREE!

The fact that there are only three months to go until the wedding makes my stomach jump up into my throat.  I feel a little dizzy/nauseous about it.  There is still a bunch to get done.  At least I had a productive month.  I've got another to do list for this month as well.  

I will finish the following items by July 24th:

• Ask people to be readers at the ceremony
• Belly bands for the invitations
• Buy address stamps 
• Buy stamps for invitations & R.S.V.P.s
• Buy tour package for honeymoon
• Complete ceremony playlist
• Complete cocktail hour playlist
• Complete dinner playlist
• Complete the popcorn part of the favors
• Complete wedding packet (with schedule)
• DIY "reserved" signs for ceremony
• DIY flower girl basket
• DIY Photo Scavenger Hunt
• DIY Ring bearer box
• DIY signs for bride and groom chairs
• DIY thank you parasol
• DIY wooden signs
• Figure out wish jar (?)
• Finish DIY guest book
• Mail out invitations by July 30 (might run into next month's to do list)
• Order dinnerware
• Order envelopes for invitations & programs
• Order headband/tiara
• Order jewelry
• Purchase or DIY veil
• Put together VIP ladies' bags
• R.S.V.P.s for the invitations
• Reserve wedding night hotel room
• Stuff envelopes and put on wax seals

It's pretty overwhelming.  I keep telling myself that if I get all of this done in the months prior, I won't have to stress so much in the month before the wedding.  It's just going to be a little extra stressful this month and next month.  ;)

This weekend, I am just going to relax.  I had to run myself ragged to get almost everything done for this past month's to do list.  You wouldn't believe how much time goes into making those damn pocketfold invitations!  It's not difficult but it takes forever!  

I think that most of the items on this month's list should be fairly simple.  Again, probably more time consuming than complicated.  But, I'm ready!

To Do? To Done!

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It's the night of the 23rd which means I should be finished with my to do list for the month.  Unfortunately, that's not completely true.  I've done a great job getting things done this month, but there are two things that I haven't gotten done yet:

• Finalize the centerpieces

• Decide between paper lanterns and String Balls
• Get my dress alterations started
• Decide on the favors and get them started
• DIY "tears of joy"
• Finish DIY guest book (a challenge...)
• Book all hotel rooms for the honeymoon
• Book hotel room for wedding night
• Redo the "dye disaster"
• Order Philip's wedding band 
• Order photos and finish the photo memory book
• Order ceremony sand
• Order wedding party gifts
• DIY table numbers 
• Finish updating the wedding website
• Find and order ties for the groomsmen 
• Decide on a program design
• Finish DIY personalized Hangers 
• Finish the pocketfold invitations 

I haven't booked the hotel for our wedding night.  I just haven't figured out which hotel will work best for us.  Fingers crossed that I will be able to check that off the list after this weekend.

I also still haven't finished the guest book.  I still haven't figured out how to get the design painted on the cover.  I think I'm going to end up doing something else with it.  

Anyway, I'm still pleased that I got so much done this month!  Stay tuned tomorrow when I will reveal my insane to do list for the next month!  :S

Favor Idea

I have been trying to figure out what to do for favors for quite some time now.  I've tossed around a bunch of different ideas (examples here).  I just couldn't decide on anything.  I liked a few different ideas but I still couldn't settle on one of them.

A few weeks ago, I sat down and thought about what sorts of things really screamed us.  I thought about the things that we like to do.  Our friends and family know that we are huge movie buffs.  We have an enormous movie collection and we go to the theater pretty often.  

So, I tried to think of favors that would fit that idea.  Who doesn't get popcorn and soda (and maybe a little candy) while at the theater?  And, so I ran with that idea.

Of course, I couldn't do a fountain drink like at the theater, but I really liked the idea of the glass bottle soda bar:

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SO CUTE!  I love it.  And then I tried to incorporate the popcorn and candy.  At first I thought of burlap bags filled with popcorn kernels.  But, that seems like a lot of work... ;)  So, I moved on to the easy microwave popcorn packages.  But, I didn't want it to look like just a pack of microwave popcorn. 

And I wanted to put the candy with it.  I did some Google searches and found that Twizzlers were the most common kind of candy bought at the theater.  Then I came up with a plan.

I first went with the kraft paper and twine, but it was just too bland.  

 

Then I added some navy curling ribbon instead.  I like it.  It looks better in person than in the photo.  I hate that the photos never do anything justice!  So, I'm thinking about putting these on the plates with the table settings and then having a soda bar of orange soda (our soda of choice).  I think it'd be cute.  

Anyway, I think it fits us.  What do you think?

The thank you cards are off!

I finished up the thank you cards for the bridal shower.  I think it actually took longer for me to get the printer to address the envelopes than it took to write the thank you cards themselves!  I don't know why I always have such a hard time getting printers to print on envelopes.  

I know I could just hand write the addresses... but, I thought I had subjected these good people to enough of my horribly handwriting in the cards!  

Right before mailing... taken with my crappy cell phone camera.

It feels good to have them done.  It wouldn't normally take that long to finish them, but with all of the other wedding stuff I've been working on (only 2 nights left to finish everything on my to do list!), it took longer than expected.  But, they're done now.  And, they'll be going in the mailbox when I leave work today.  :)  

Light Update

Remember that flameless tealight?  The one that I turned on around 4:30pm on Sunday?  Well, it's still going strong (it's now about 12:30am on Wednesday).  

Crappy cell phone picture of the light.

So, it's still going about 56 hours later.  I think that is pretty impressive.  It shouldn't be any problem to turn the lights when we're decorating the tent on the Friday before the wedding.  If it can last these 56 hours, it shouldn't be any problem for them to last 24 to 36 hours.  :)  Yay for lighting solutions!

While I was at Dollar Tree today, I picked up all of them that they had in stock.  They had about 20 available (so 60 tealights total).  I'm still going to need some more but it's a definite start.  I'm just excited to have it figured out!

A Dye Success!

You might remember that I had an idea for getting the color sand that I wanted without having to pay crazy prices for it.  Well, it involved dye... and after the most recent dye disaster, I was a little pessimistic.  But, since I was already dyed partially blue, I thought it was worth a shot.  

I started out using food color.  I found a "recipe" for dying sand that said to just use food coloring and water.  That didn't work out so great.  I was going for navy, but the darkest I could get it was an aqua color.  

Then I tried the leftover RIT dye that I had.  That didn't work out so great either.  As you can imagine, it dyed the sand purple.  Go figure.  That RIT dye lies!  It is not navy!  

Anyway, I decided to combine the two.  And, surprisingly, it worked!  I ended up with a dark blue colored sand.  It may not be perfect, but I am SO happy with it!  

Drying on some paper towels.

I'll be sure to do a tutorial later since there weren't a whole lot of places that gave instructions on how to dye sand.  I was surprised at how easy it was!  For now, I've got even more projects to work on.  Phew!  Busy night!  :P

The Dye Disaster: Part II

As you might remember from The Dye Disaster (Part I), the petals ended up being a lavender color instead of navy.  I assumed that this was because the washing machine diluted the dye too much.

I decided to try again using the stovetop method.  Basically, you dye the fabric in a pot on the stovetop.  It's much stronger because there is less water.  Or I thought...

Putting the petals in the dye bath.

15 minutes in...

30 minutes in...

After 50 minutes.

Yep.  Still purple.  A darker purple, but still purple.  Gah!  I swear I bought navy dye!  It's just not wanting to dye these darn petals blue.  I don't know what to do.  I think I'm just giving up on the dying of the petals.  It's obviously just not meant to be.  :P

A package arrived...

As I write this post, I am working on redoing the dye disaster.  I'm not holding my breath.  It's been about 15 minutes and so far, it just looks a darker shade of purple.  *Sigh*

Anyway, I got a package in the mail today.  Well, actually two of them.  One of them was this beauty: 

It's much better in person than it was on the website.  I'm really glad because I was worried!  And, my hope was right.  They do look wonderful next to the pearls!

And that brings me to the second package.  The gifts for the girls.  Ladies, if you'd like to be surprised by your gifts, I suggest you stop reading now!

 

I got them matching pearl earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.  I love them!  I can't wait to see them on the ladies on the wedding day.  In case you hadn't noticed, I love me some pearls.  ;)

There was another item in with the girls' jewelry. 

Philip's wedding band!  He had already left for work by the time I received the package, so I haven't been able to verify if it fits or if it is has he had imagined.  I guess I'll be able to tell you that tomorrow!

For now, I'm off to check on the dye and then to finish a few other projects.  :)

Drumroll Please! ...The Centerpiece Mock-ups!

I've come up with no less than one hundred and thirty four different ideas for centerpieces.  It's really hard to narrow down the ideas in my head when there are so many absolutely amazing ideas out there!

However, I think I've done it.  So, without further ado, here is my idea:

So, a white/ivory tablecloth (without the leaf designs -- I don't have any plain ivory tablecloths!) with the luminary table number in the middle.  Then, one of these:

on either side of the table number.  Then, there will be a stack of books (preferably vintage).  On top of the books is a washed out tomato soup can (I am so classy!) with thick ivory ribbon tied around it.  In the can are beautiful Baby's Breath.  :)

My original plan wasn't to use the empty tomato soup cans.  I was looking for some kind of galvanized pail.  I didn't find anything that I liked though and decided to wing it.  I actually like the empty tomato soup cans!  

I really love the books.  For those of you who don't know me personally, I am an avid reader.  Before the wedding planning took over my life, most of my free time was spent with my nose in a book.  It's also very fitting because Philip's last name is Buch -- German for book!  :)

Anyway, that's what I've got for now.  What do you think?  Any changes I should make? 

Lighting the Lanterns

I've been thinking about how to light the paper lanterns at the wedding.  I had originally intended to make led "throwies."  I wasn't really looking forward to it.  It seems like a huge pain in the rear.  But, I hadn't come up with any feasible alternatives.  

This past weekend, Philip and I made a trip to Dollar Tree to pick up a few things I needed for the favor mock-up idea that I had.  I came across these:

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I need them for the luminary table numbers.  But, then I got to thinking, these might work for the paper lanterns!  They're only 33¢ a piece which isn't much more than I'd be spending on the led throwies.  

So, tonight, I turned one of them on while I was working on the invitations... just to see how long it would last.  After all, if the light only stays on for a few hours, it's not going to work.  We'll need to be able to turn them all on before going to get ready and they'll need to stay on for the entire reception.  

It's going on 7 hours and the light is still on.  Of course, I still want it to last a few more hours, but it's a good start!  The package says 60 hours, but I don't always trust what the package says.

If it lasts 60 hours, we can definitely use these!  We would be able to start the lights the day before when we're decorating the tent and not have to worry about them going out.  That would be wonderful.

Anyway, when I was taking a break from invitations, I decided to do a test to see how well it lit the lanterns.  One worked fine for the 8 inch lantern, but it was too dim for anything bigger.  So, I put two lights together in the 10" lantern.  Here's what I had:

The photos make the glow look more yellow than what it is.  It actually gives it a really nice glow.  I'm very pleased with it!  :)  Here's how I had it rigged up:

Just some fishing line and some tape.  Very simple!  If the light lasts for as long as it is supposed to, I think it's a definite option.  :)  Now, back to working on invitations.  Oh, joy!

How did this happen?!?!

We are now at 99 days to go.  We are officially in only double digits.  DOUBLE DIGITS I TELL YOU!!  It makes me a little queasy to think about it.  When we started, we had 406 days before the wedding.  It seems like that was just last month!  Ahhhh!
 
I know that everything is coming along really well.  However, I've started having mini-freakouts about "what if I've forgotten something??"  Or "what if it doesn't turn out how I want it to??" Or "what if I run out of time??"

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I know that everything will be perfect, but that doesn't seem to make any difference when it comes to the butterflies in my stomach.  They still aren't sure of what I'm trying to make myself believe!  

I've started working on my to-do list for July/August and August/September.  It's overwhelming to think of how much I still have left to do.  At least most of it is pretty simple stuff.  I can do this!  I can do this!  I can do this!  

Okay.  End panic!  :)

My list is shrinking!

After a highly productive weekend with my family in Indiana and a few days of productivity back in Colorado, I have a few more things to cross off of my to do list.

• Finalize the centerpieces
• Decide between paper lanterns and String Balls
• Get my dress alterations started
• Decide on the favors and get them started
• DIY "tears of joy"
• Finish DIY guest book (a challenge...)
• Book all hotel rooms for the honeymoon
• Book hotel room for wedding night
• Redo the "dye disaster"
• Order Philip's wedding band 
• Order photos and finish the photo memory book
• Order ceremony sand
• Order wedding party gifts
• DIY table numbers 
• Finish updating the wedding website
• Find and order ties for the groomsmen 
• Decide on a program design
• Finish DIY personalized Hangers 
• Finish the pocketfold invitations (In Progress!)

Of course, we finished the Tears of Joy and the Table Numbers in Indiana.  And I also got the alterations started on my dress.  

I ordered the gifts for my maids and my flower girl.  They should be here on Tuesday.  I may still pick up a few small items for them, but I think I've got the major ones out of the way.  

I also ordered the groomsmen's ties.  I decided on this one:

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I really wanted this one:

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But it still isn't in stock.   So, I'm settling.  I think the other one will be cute.  The circles/bubbles on the tie should tie in with the pearls I'm having the girls wear.  

I ordered the photos for the memory book.  I spent $1.95 on 106 4x6 photos, two 11x14 photos (for the house -- not for the wedding) and that's including shipping.  If you'll remember, when PhotoWorks went out of business, I got a $30 credit towards Shutterfly.  And, I used the current free shipping coupon code (SHIP30 -- You have to spend more than $30 to use it).  I should have those next week.  It says June 24th, but last time it took only 2 days to arrive.  Once it gets here, it should take just an hour or two to finish up the memory book.  :)

I also ordered Philip's wedding band.  It should also be here on Tuesday.  I will be sure to take some pictures of it when it arrives and I'll definitely give it a review.  

I am feeling good about how everything is coming along, but I still have a few big things to take care of before the 24th.  I have to pick up some stuff this weekend to work on the centerpieces and the favors.  

The invitations and inserts are all cut out, so I just have to put them all together now.  It should just be one more night of work.  Hopefully I can finish that up on Sunday night when Philip goes to work.  

The guest book will be the death of me.  I am still stumped about what to do with it.  I'm sure I'll figure it out.  I might stop by Michael's this weekend and see if I can get some inspiration.

We still have to book our wedding night hotel.  I'm still trying to decide where we want to be and what will be the best option for us.  I am going to talk to Philip about it this weekend and see if he has any preferences.  Hopefully we will get that checked off the list on Monday or Tuesday.  

And, redoing the dye disaster shouldn't take long.  I just haven't felt like dying my fingers blue recently.  I'm sure it will be the last thing done off of this list!  

lastly, I hope to pick up the ceremony sand this weekend.  I have had some trouble finding sand in the colors I want at the price I want.  I may be doing a little project next week to meet both of my needs.  ** Fingers Crossed That It Works **

Phew!  I'm so close!  I know that it will all be finished in time for my deadline... even if it drives me a little bonkers.  ;)