Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Lists, lists, lists!

WOOEEE!!! It looks like I am finally making some strides down the road to the end of this list.  That makes me thrilled and sad all at the same time...  I'm thrilled since it means things are getting done that need to be done, I'm checking things off the list (which is an amazing feeling that I love), and I am getting closer and closer to being the new Mrs. Willink!!! :-)  I'm sad at the same time because it means that I won't have any major event to be planning after this... (unless one of my lovely bridesmaids, who isn't already married, gets engaged... I won't name any names because I'm sure you know who you are **cough cough**)


I won't keep you in suspense any longer... Here is the list you have all been waiting to see (haha!)  Stay tuned for updates on what we have been up to lately - sorry for the delay in posts - life is CRAZY! :)


Our Mountaineer Wedding Checklist...


10 - 12 months before the wedding:  July - September 2010
• Announce your engagement to family and friends  - CHECK
• Arrange for both families to meet if they haven't already done so - CHECK
• Have an engagement party (optional) - NOT OUR STYLE
• Set the wedding style and size of the wedding (bride magazines are great for ideas) - CHECK
• Set your wedding budget - CHECK
• Start creating your guest list - CHECK 
• Set the wedding day and time - CHECK 
• Decide on whether to have a religious or non-religious ceremony - CHECK
• Choose and book your wedding officiant - CHECK
• Choose your maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen - CHECK
• Choose and book your ceremony and reception locations - CHECK
• Purchase wedding insurance (optional) - IS THIS SOMETHING I SHOULD BE DOING??
• Meet with caterers and taste samples - CHECK
• Meet with florists and decide on real or silk flowers - CHECK!  (SOOOO excited about our florist!!)
• Meet with and audition DJs or bands - CHECK
• Meet with photographers and look over their portfolios - CHECK
• Create a wedding website - CHECK (Still have a few edits to make...)

YAY!!! A completed LIST! :)

7 - 9 months before the wedding: October - December 2010
• Bride: shop for and order your wedding dress - CHECK!!!!!!! :-)
• Bride: shop for and order/purchase bridal accessories: veil , shoes , jewelry - NEED TO DO
• Bride: (with your bridal party) shop for and order bridesmaids dresses - IN PROGRESS  (Dresses have been picked out... the bm's are in the process of ordering them...)
• Book the florist (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK (love her!!)
• Book the caterer (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK
• Book DJ or band (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK
• Book the photographer (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK
• Start planning your honeymoon - IN PROGRESS (I think we have found the place we want to go... I STILL need to get a passport...)
• Finalize the guest list - CHECK!!! :-)
• Start making wedding favors if you're making your own - NEED TO DO - eek!
• Meet with bakers and sample wedding cakes - CHECK (thanks Mom & Dad!)
• Start looking at wedding invitations - CHECK (we designed ours... can't wait to start the assembly process!)
• Start thinking about the wording of your wedding invitations - CHECK
• Start planning the rehearsal dinner - CHECK (just have to finalize the plans...)

4 - 6 months before the wedding:  January - March 2011
• Join a bridal registry - CHECK 
• Book the baker for your wedding cake - NEED TO DO 
• Order your wedding invitations - NEED TO DO (how about work on assembling them? haha!)
• Book a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests - CHECK!
• Contact out-of-town guests about the wedding (prior to sending out invitations) - CHECK 
• Finalize dinner menu with caterer - CHECK (thanks Mom and Dad!)
• Purchase wedding guest favors - NEED TO DO - eek!
• Book the limousine or other wedding day transportation - NEED TO DO
• Book the rehearsal dinner site - NEED TO DO 
• Book a calligrapher (if you're using one) - CHECK (call me Ms. Calligraphy...)
• Groom: start looking at tuxedos or other formal wear - IN PROGRESS (we have to make the final decision soon...)
• Book the honeymoon - NEED TO DO
• Book a hotel room for the wedding night - NEED TO DO 
• Book a photo session for engagement announcement in local newspapers - CHECK 
• Start thinking about wedding ceremony decorations - CHECK (thanks to our wonderful florist!)  
• Bride: buy bridal lingerie in time for first dress fitting - NEED TO DO

2 - 3 months before the wedding: April - May 2011
• Give the photographer a list of "important shots" you want included - NEED TO DO (although, we started making a list of these!)
• Purchase your wedding rings - CHECK!
• Purchase maid of honor gift, bridesmaids gifts , best man gift , groomsmen gifts - NEED TO DO (I have some ideas in mind... just nothing finalized yet...) 
• Purchase the groom's gift or the bride's gift , whichever applies - NEED TO DO 
• Groom: finalize tuxedo /formal attire and pass on rental/purchase details to groomsmen - NEED TO DO • Run engagement announcement in local newspapers - NEED TO DO
• Bride: schedule your dress fittings - NEED TO DO 
• Bride: make sure your bridal party has purchased their accessories - NEED TO DO 
• Bride: book your hair and makeup appointments - NEED TO DO 
• Bride: if you're changing your name complete the proper documents - NEED TO DO 
• If your state requires it, have blood tests done - NEED TO DO 
• Bride: talk to your maid of honor about a bridal shower - IN PROGRESS (thanks to my amazing MOH who is on top of things!  I think the plans are ALMOST finished!!!) 
• Address and send out wedding invitations (invitations should be mailed at 2-month mark) - NEED TO DO • Groom: purchase your accessories including shoes, cuff links, handkerchiefs, etc. - NEED TO DO 
• Decide on whether to light a unity candle or honor past loved ones during the ceremony - IN PROGRESS
• Start working on wedding program - NEED TO DO (but have ideas!)



4-8 weeks before:  May- June 2011
• Mail invitations out eight weeks prior to the wedding date and send accommodation info to your out-of-town guests  - NEED TO DO
• Fill out a change of address form at the post office, if necessary  - NEED TO DO
• Pick up your marriage license- NEED TO DO
• Have ceremony programs printed  - NEED TO DO
• Purchase a guest book and other wedding accessories including toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, etc.  - NEED TO DO (guest book is done through the photographer... the glasses and cake knife are on the registry... the pillow needs to be finalized...)
• Keep your wedding website updated with directions and event details  - CHECK
• Choose your hair and make-up stylists and schedule a trial for both; also book appointments to have your hair, make-up and nails done on the day of the wedding  - NEED TO DO
• Review insurance information with your fiancé to see if any updates need to be made prior to the wedding (car, home, medical, etc.)  - NEED TO DO
• Plan a bridal luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids  - NEED TO DO



2-4 weeks before:  June 2011
• Create a seating chart for the reception and make place cards  - NEED TO DO
• Contact your caterer with a final guest count  - NEED TO DO
• Print out a timeline of events for your wedding party and vendors - include contact information and cell phone numbers  - NEED TO DO (Love this one!)
• Meet with your photographer and florist to finalize details  - NEED TO DO
• Finalize your ceremony and reception music and song list for your wedding band or DJ  - NEED TO DO
• Confirm lodging reservations for out-of-town guests  - NEED TO DO
• Place a wedding announcement in your local newspaper  - NEED TO DO
• Pick up wedding bands and make sure the fit is good  - NEED TO DO
• Schedule a final dress fitting  - NEED TO DO
• Write rehearsal dinner toasts  - NEED TO DO



1 week before:  (July 3-9)
• Write out final checks for your minister, organist, DJ or musicians, etc. and organize in envelopes for one of your attendants to distribute at the wedding  - NEED TO DO
• Pick up your wedding gown  - NEED TO DO
• Confirm limo or other transportation reservations  - NEED TO DO
• Pack for your honeymoon and confirm travel arrangements  - NEED TO DO (this will be done during the month of June... the month of July is going to be CRAZYYY)
• Have your local post office hold your mail, if necessary, while you are away on your honeymoon  - NEED TO DO

Friday, February 11, 2011

Oh My Gosh... SHOES!!!

We have made great strides in the wedding planning world lately and I will be sure to update you on those shortly.  But I had to post this to get some opinions... I "took a break" from reading (more like became distracted) and decided to take a look at shoes for the wedding...  Here is a few possible ideas for the shoes I could wear... what are your thoughts?




Monday, February 7, 2011

Oh Boy!

My apologies for not posting in what feels like forever.  The truth is, my life got crazy busy over these past few weeks and I have been scrambling to get everything done.  Unfortunately, it is late and I really need to sleep before classes tomorrow... but I wanted to let you all know that the planning is still going well and I will provide a full update ASAP!  :)  I will leave you all with an image from two of my good friends from school... they have witnessed "minorly stressed out Mallory" and offered some comfort in the form of a photo.... enjoy! :)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Invitation Dilemma... Round 2

So you may remember me going on about how I am at a loss for what to do about these invitations.  Well, I stopped being crazy and upset about it and decided to sketch out a possible design - IF - I were to make them myself.  Here is the sketch images...  (please don't judge my poor artwork abilities)

This is the entire sketch sheet... There are more close ups below...
 Here is a picture of what I want the main invitation portion to look like.  I am thinking a yellow envelope with a liner that is blue paper with white polka dots.  The actual invitation would be on white paper that would have a punched out design on the left and right side of the paper.  This punch out would allow you to see the color of the paper behind it.  The paper behind it would be yellow and would fold up and close around the invitation and could be tied with a pretty blue ribbon.
 The response cards could be similar to the main invitations, with colors inverted and no closure around the response cards.  (Hope this is all making sense...)
 Information cards would look identical, in design, to the response cards.
I drug Jeff to Michael's with me to help me not spend a ton of money on supplies that we may not end up using and to help pick things out and help me think of possibilities.  I am sure that by July 16, he is probably going to hate craft stores more than he does now.  (I must tell you though, when we left the store after this adventure, he said he didn't mind it too much because we went in, got what we needed and got out and didn't spend time looking for more craft projects that we don't have time for...)
On our craft store adventure I found:
- an adorable paper puncher that does edging that is made by Martha Stewart... around $14.99
- blank white invitation card stock and envelopes (pack of 100)... around $10.99
- blue cardstock and white cardstock... $0.59/sheet (if this project flourishes, I must find these colors of cardstock in BULK!)
- a paper cutter to cut straight lines easily... around $9.99
While looking around in the wedding aisle, Jeff found an invitation DIY kit that was on sale.  There were plenty there for us to be able to purchase them and make our own invites from this kit that included EVERYTHING.... around $15.99
Luckily I had a coupon for 20% off my entire order... shopping trip total... around $50  (forgive my math skills... I think I may have forgotten a few items in our list...)
After the adventure, I decided it was time to try a portion of the idea.  I had invited people to come to my apartment to watch the playoff game so I could only try part of the idea before it was time for me to get ready.  Here was what I tried...

The white paper with the cut out part on the sides (just like I drew up)... making the sides close in proved to be pretty tough... I think if we do make these on our own, we will be scratching that part of the idea...
 Here is a close up of the invite... what do you think??
 Here is a close up of an invite from the kit that we got.  If we used this, I would probably want to put some embellishments on the right side to dress it up a little... but we will see...
Here is the inside of the kit invite.  There is a pocket on the left hand side for the response card and information card, which I like... But, I wasn't too crazy about the overall look and feel of the invite.

So after a few days of thinking about what I wanted it to look like and comparing the options, I decided to try a mock up of the actual layout of the invite print.  My printer ink was pretty much dead and it printed off center slightly, but other than that, I think I like my mock up.  What do you think?  Think we should use our design?
 Here is a close up of the monogram I designed for the invites.  There is a problem near the top of the outer circle with the dots because there are two that are almost touching - which shouldn't be there.  I gotta fix that little issue and then I will be happy with this monogram.  What do you all think?  Should we go for it?  Do you like the monogram?



Oh How I LOVE Save the Dates!!!!!!!!!!!

Our save the dates arrived yesterday - just like the UPS website told me they would!  They arrived in an un-mangled plain, brown box... See below...


Inside of the plain, brown box was a very pretty teal box that had a magnetic closure to hold all of my lovely goodies inside!  I was so excited jumping up and down like a small child!  It was like Christmas morning!


Inside the pretty, teal box, I found envelopes galore and our save the dates!!!! :-)  I was sooooo excited!!!  They turned out beautifully!  Everything is spelled right, the photo looks amazing... OOO!!! I can't wait to send them out!


I was so excited about them that I decided to put them all in their envelopes so I can print the labels, stick the labels to the envelops along with a stamp and get them out ASAP!  I don't know if you can tell how excited I am but believe me, I could hardly sit still!


And here they all are.  Nice and pretty white envelopes stuffed with out save the dates.  Ready for mailing labels and stamps... YAY!! :)

A weekend of registries!

This past weekend, future husband and I decided to start the registry process.  Our plan: register at 4 places - one that is only in NY (Erie)... one that is only in Motown... and two that they share in common.  We started out at Belk (which is the Motown exclusive) and I had already started one there during a bridal event where I won a "men's prize pack" that included a duffel bag, bar utensils and a skillet.  We tried to update the registry with things we actually wanted and didn't have much luck.  We left discouraged (and with no pictures), but headed to Bed Bath & Beyond, in hopes of having better luck.

What a breath of fresh air!  The wedding registry staff at BB&B was absolutely amazing!  The woman was so full of energy and so nice!  She printed off images from their website of some of the things we were on the fence about so we could find them easier later.  She spent time explaining to us the differences in the various pots and pans they had available, and did the same with the knifes!  We found pots, pans and knifes that we are absolutely in love with!  Then the fun began!  I let Jeff run the "gun" and I used my "organizational skills" (that some like to refer to as OCD) to check things off as we registered for them.

We spent 2.5 hours in that store and only registered for kitchen items and luggage!  We found it difficult to decide on kitchen linens, bathroom and bedroom linens because we hadn't really thought about what colors we wanted to use for those rooms.  Figuring that out is certainly on our to-do list!

Look how much fun we had!

YAY!!!  (I will let you all take a guess at what this may be...)
 Jeff was so excited when he found a waffle maker that flips around!

We will be having more fun registry adventures this weekend.  All the time we spent at BB&B wore us out so we celebrated with dinner at Carrabba's.  We were also celebrating 6 months away from the wedding! YAY!  Getting more excited as the day gets closer!