If life wasn't crazy enough with working on our home, Ryan and I getting used to living together after having opposite schedules, trying to figure out my place in the photography world, enjoying our adorable lil' nephews Evan, Forrest, and Levi plus Vivian, our adorable niece... Ryan and I also have a puppy or at least is the size of one, Jack, who is a Jack Russell mix! How fun and YES, and a little crazy, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Linens for the Tables

Man, is it hard to find "pool" in a cotton fabric... and I sure didn't know until today that there are very few places that sell yards of material. Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabric, and Fields Fabric seems to be the biggest places in the area. We only had an opportunity to visit Joann Fabric. Here is what we came up with...
I would like to a larger square piece of fabric that hangs over the end of the table a inch or so at the corners. Than have a smaller square in the middle of the table where the center piece will sit upon. Big discussion though, should the brown be the big piece or the small piece? Mom likes the brown being the small square and in my pictures, the brown is the larger square!

I'm a visual person so when we find the fabrics, we may have to give both a shot before we make a decision.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Recommendations for our Honeymoon!

We finally made our way to Breton Village Travel to talk about ideas for our honeymoon.

Right off the bat she recommended Couples Resorts, which is a chain in Jamaica. They are adults only and offer more than the usual all-inclusive resort does. They have excursions that DON'T cost extra! :) The particular one she recommends for honeymoons is the Couples Swept Away. It has 320 rooms, 6 restaurants, casino, piano bar, martini bar with over 100 martini choices... and on and on and on... Thing is, flights to Jamaica are tricky.

Which is exactly what we found out about the Dominican Republic too. You have to go out of either Detroit or Chicago to get to DR. The resort that we are looking at there is another Secrets resort, Sanctuary Cap Cana.

Than we have good ole Mexico... which price wise is the most reasonable airfare. Currently, we are looking at another Secrets resort, Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun. It is the newest Secrets and is held to the same standards as Secrets Capri Riviera Maya. Maroma has 412 rooms, 12 pools, 7 restaurant, and 8 bars!

Lots of things to think about... all I know is by that time, we will be just so EXCITED to get away that any of these places would be amazing! All I want to do is lay in a pool in the Caribbean with my husband by my side and a tropical drink in my hand!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

One the way to a Decorated Table!

What do you think...

World Market, yes, World Market is addicting! I would of made more purchases but they didn't have one of the things I wanted! Anywho... I did by some votive candles. When I look at pictures from wedding receptions at the Habourfront Grand Hall, I see candles on the tables. The room has big windows but because it is brick it does seem darker. So today, I purchased some frosted votive candles... 60 candles! I was thinking 3 per table and we figurer 17 or 18 guest tables. Here is a picture... remember though, 12 candles for $9.99, the burn for 10-12 hours... worth it, yes or no?!? Should they be returned? Can I get them for cheaper else where?!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Decorations Update

Tonight, Ryan and I ran to Hobby Lobby and picked up these great LARGE grape cluster string of lights! There are 6 clusters red and white grapes! The grill at the check out said they look awesome with they are all lit up! I'm thinking of hanging them at the bar or we could even do outside or at a table... like the cake, picture, or place card table.

Ryan on the side has been working on getting pint size antique blue mason jars from someone in the NW area! Only thing is the story seems to change every time he talks to them. One day they only had 12... the next time they were able to get 24! One day they said we could see them by stopping at Pops restaurant than the next day said we can meet them somewhere! AHHH! The new thought is that if we get them we will put a quart, a pint, and the blue wine bottle on each table. The quart will be filled with flowers, the pint with corks, and the wine bottle will have the table name. I love the idea of the 3 levels! In my picture that we are basing this off of, they have a larger size and 2 quarts but we are having issues finding the LARGE ones. Cause I really still like the look of the twigs.

Also, on the side, I got a surprise for Ryan today! Can't wait to show him... but he will have to wait until September 11! HEHE!

Better early than never...

Trying to figure out any little things I can now... so I called numerous salons and they LAUGHED at me when they asked when when I told them when the wedding was!

What can I saw.... good to have this information NOW so that I can make sure I can get a time and place I like.

Seems as if most places are starting at about $40 average to do a updo... and about $30 or so for makeup. I've never really had my hair professionally done and for sure have never had a pro do my makeup!

All for one day.... little crazy isn't it?!?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hotel CHECK... Trolley CROSS OUT :(

I have everything set with the Days Inn in Grand Haven for all of our guests who want a place to stay for after the wedding! We need atleast 7 rooms rented for the guests to get a discount... rooms starting at $77! We have 15 rooms blocked for guests!

BAD NEWS... the GH Trolley is not only booked until 5:30 p.m. but it also won't go as far as Kirk Park to pick us up :(. I emailed the trolley service out of Grand Rapids... only thing is, they are ALOT MORE pricewise... where the GH Trolley was only $100 a hour. Oh well... I just don't think a limo fits the theme but maybe we will have to get even more creative!

Still haven't got the email for the quote from the florist we saw last night...

Putting wedding stuff aside for the weekend so that we can focus on Jenni and the baby boy Crater! :)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Flowers, flowers everywhere!

This week we have so far focused on florists!

Yesterday with met with Shelly's Designs/Florist http://www.shellysdesignsflorist.com/. She was so helpful! We don't know a thing about flowers but she showed us pictures and tried to incorporate our "theme", even giving us ideas for other decorations we could do ourselves. She understood the fact I like simplicity and keeping it natural, plus my love for bear grass! :) Ryan was really impressed which made me feel that much better! We also thought for the quantity of flowers we were looking at that she gave us an AWESOME price!

Today, mom, jill and I stopped at Designing Dreams LLC http://www.designingdreamsllc.com/. We went in to the meeting the same way we did with Shelly... to see what kind of ideas she has. She has done some amazing work and was highly recommended by Vanessa and Steph. She also showed us some tuxes that we the color of the suits we were liking. I'm waiting on the quote to see what we think!

I'm thinking either will do an amazing job! But I think Shelly got out idea/theme... which would help with seeing what she could create for us!

On another note... I called the big hotels in GH, Best Western and Days Inn. Best Western has some great reviews but I've stayed at the Days Inn and thought it was what you would expect for a hotel. Both have the same check in/check out, free simple breakfasts, and pools! But when it comes to there blocking rooms policy... they are very different. Lets put it this way... Days Inn was very informative, professional, and we only need a minimum of 7 rooms. Which after talking a general pole, will be easy!

Things are getting done... ALSO sounds like due to Chris's (one of our mistresses of ceremony) experience with Alfred Angelo that we may want to check in when we should place an order. Thing is we may have problems for Jenni at this point... since Ryan and my nephew-to-be is still in mommy's tummy! :)

Monday, January 18, 2010

Alfred Angelo Chiffon Dresses to Pick From

Style 7067 $150.00

Style 7065 $150.00

Style 7048 $145.00

Style 7063 $159.00

Style 7061 $159.00

Style 7056 $149.00

Style 7053 $149.00
Style 7051 $139.00

Style 7045 $139.00

Style 7018 $145.00

Style 7017S $149.00

Style 7015 $135.00

Finally... we can cross this off the list!

Bridesmaid dresses... ahhhh! :) I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR ALL YOU LADIES!

I brought my satin swatch from David's Bridal to Bridal Gallery to look at Alfred Angelo's swatches! Crazy enough... THE POOL IS THE SAME! I compared not only the swatches, but also the swatch to the dress. You would never know which was which!

With that being said... I have a feeling that the chiffon will be very similar or the SAME! So... for the ladies that like a style from Alfred Angelo can get a dress from him... and the ladies that like David's Bridal can get it from there!

We can all be happy and look fabulous! Hopefully you find a style you like and I'll see when we absolutely have to order them. I'm thinking though with if you like Alfred Angelo, than those people should probably order them together. I'd like to go threw Spring Lake Bridal where I ordered my wedding dress. You can see what styles they have to try on, on there website. Plus, they seem to have them for less than the other bridal stores!

Go threw... see what styles you like and we can go try on! Keri seems to have already found the dress she likes the most... the green number on our picture post. :)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Still Not Sure about Dresses...

When I look at the pictures of the dresses from David's Bridal, I'm not the happiest with them. I'm thinking that I'm going to have to be even more specific and say only chiffon material dresses. Which for Alfred Angelo, gives about 14 options and for David's Bridal gives about 7 options. After trying on the dresses, it just seems like satin is just too dressy and not enough beachie! Chiffon seems to be lighter weight and breezy.

I'm going to Bridal Gallery tomorrow with my swatch from David's Bridal to see how close the 2 colors of pool are. If they are the same... that would work great because I know that almost every girl picked a dress from one of the 2 designers that was made of chiffon. If they aren't... than I might, just say sorry charlie but we are getting them from Alfred Angelo. I want to be accommodating as possible but even after being there, I'm not the biggest David's Bridal fan. But I can understand how hard it is to not be able to try on a dress to figure out if you like it or not. Than we have to think too... most brides don't care and put their girls in any hideous thing they like! So I'm trying to still be accommodating but wanting it all to look awesome too...

AHHHH!!! Why is every step of the way so complicated? I have a feeling a lot of it is me and not the steps. But after spending time with Keri, I see we both are like that just on different things. So maybe its not totally me but just the fact of being a bride with only about 7 months away and so much to do!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Pictures of Keri and I in some of the Bridesmaid Dresses!






Bridesmaid Dress Success!

Made some wedding progress today... Keri and I visted Davids Bridal for some bridesmaid dress shopping! What a busy place with the big sale they had going on. We seemed to like the satin and chiffon material for the dresses! Take a look and tell me what you think... I just want to make sure everyone finds a style they like and looks awesome on them. I posted the Alfred Angelo styles everyone liked months ago... so go threw and compare. Pricewise they are about the same... color from David's Bridal might be a little lighter in color.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Important People

I got Ryan in the wedding mood and we made some decisions about the special people in our life and how we want to incorporate them in our wedding!

We asked my family friends, Al and Sue Dood and their daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Ryan Bridges to be our Mistresses and Masters of Ceremony! Ryan and I helped with Chris and Ryan's wedding and saw how organized and well they handle stress. Even more important than that, they are like a second family to me! Our parents are great friends and Chris and Jill are best friends. Sue refers to her self as our second mother! They will do wonderful... and we are so fortunately to have them in our lives!

Ryan and I have a few more people to ask. Ryan has one more groomsman... I have to ask a friend of ours about doing a reading... and we have a job offer for another special guy in our lives!

More calls and hopefully things getting done tomorrow. I heard back from one florist but she is out of the country for the rest of the month. But we have a few florists over here in Standale that could have some potential!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Search for Bridesmaid Dresses!

We are really accomplishing things here... except for there is still so much to get done!

Keri set up an appointment at David's Bridal in Kalamazoo to see if we like any of the styles and the color "pool" that they have! Hopefully we can get this set to if we want to do Alfred Angelo dresses or David's Bridal dresses. Besides "pool" or a nice summer blue color... but also it has to be cocktail length. It can't be the same style top/bust that my wedding dress. From there, the girls can pick! I hope I'm on the right track with letting everyone pick a style that fits them. I like the pictures of the ladies that are different... just hope no one picks the same style! With 5 girls you would hope they would all be different.

Also on the side, I've been looking in to florists, the Trolley, and hotels in GH! AHHHHH!!!!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

"YES to the DRESS"

After searching for months, I found "the" dress! Ironic enough... I saw this dress when we picked up Jill's... it was the first dress I tried on... and at the moment, I am the first person to buy the dress from Spring Lake Bridal! (It is the Alfred Angelo dress... see previous blogs or email for style number).

To me, it isn't a traditional wedding dress! It's red carpet all the way! Simple elegance... it makes me look FABULOUS and the girl's said my butt looks GREAT! HAHA!

Very excited to see Ryan's reaction when we see each other for the first time! He may be a little disappointed about cleavage... I'll just take his breath away instead!

YIPPEE... time to have fun getting accessories... "pool" blue shoes or what about a birds cage veil or a flower for my hair!

Also, got a great wedding photo frame! It's square and looks like the boardwalk cause of the wood boards that make up the frame... it says "Grand Haven" than has the picture in the middle and below the pic says "where memories are made". How is that NOT PERFECT for a wedding pic of us!

Friday, January 8, 2010

One thing down... MILLION things to GO!

I wasn't worried about Kirk Park... except for the possible spectators that didn't receive a invitation! But I now FOR SURE... have the picnic shelter! CROSS OUR FINGERS... that it is only used for gathering before/after the wedding and for h'orderves and beverages of the non-alcoholic kind. No matter what it is used for it will probably be the best $85 spent for piece of mind.

Tomorrow on the search for a dress... or TWO! And finding the perfect veil that matches little Jilly's beautiful dress! Least I know I'm not the only one that takes FOREVER to find a dress... she tired on TONS, until she found "the one"! Shawn will think she looks AMAZING!

Wish us luck... we will be a squirrelly goofy bunch... but hey, no matter what we will have fun tomorrow! Just hope we can cross one more thing off the list...

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Wedding Dress, Oh Wedding Dress... why are you so hard to find!

After making some calls today, Spring Lake Bridal does not have the dress in that is an almost identical match to the dress from Bridal Elegance. I changed my appointment time to 10:30 on Saturday, so that we have plenty of time to cruise over to Spring Lake and hopefully make a stop in GH for lunch. I really really am crossing my fingers that I can show Vanessa and Christine the "Grand Hall"! :) Than I think it would be easier for them to understand the vision I have!

Better news... David's Bridal has there $99 dress sale! The wedding dresses they have don't interest me... but I do have to get my maid of honor dress for Keri's wedding there! If they had that dress for $99... that would be AMAZING!

During the day, I tried to do some searching for our "Save the Date" magnent design. What I'm running in to is, our picture is more regtangular than the space they give you on the pre-designed magnants. No luck on that front so far. I'm sure I could create something I'd love but than we run in to who will make it! AHH! Shouldn't be so hard!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Another Idea to Add to the Mix!

Mom purchased a birch bark vase on the After-Christmas Sale at Pottery Barn. She thinks that it would be great to add the texture, width variety, and plus the nature and Up North side to the decor! I found some example pictures... but I'm not totally sure yet! I think we need more of a height variety over width, plus I am still in love with my picture of the table settings from Madonna's Fathers Winery, Ciccone.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Found a Bouquet to Match!

After "Googling" everything I could think of with "beach", "beach grass", "bouquets"... I searched "Leelanau Flowers"... just to see what flowers are known for there and I found the JACKPOT! A WHITE FLOWER BEACH GRASS BOUQUET!

I just wanted to jump for joy! Now we have an ides for the florist for my bouquet and the boutonnieres... just have to find a bouquet that would work for the girls.

I'm a dork... after doing more research, if you look under "bear grass" and you can find a lot of similar bouquets! BUT... I'm still favorable to the pictures shown. I like the fact its not PERFECT! I don't want a bouquet that looks necessarily like a traditional bouquet! I know, I know, I've been saying that about wedding dresses... but I'm not the traditional bride! I'm a beach bathin', wine drinkin', Leland lovin' BRIDE! Take a peek as the picture below for a idea for the bridesmaids!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Mom's findings and Research on Wine Bottles...

Good old mom... my aunt and her met at the bookstore this weekend and looked threw wedding magazines! HEY... they can be like $5.00 a magazine so why not find a useful one before you buy! Anywho... she was making me think about flowers, bouquets, and boutonnieres. With trying to do some searching, I couldn't find any pictures of bouquets with beach grass incorporated. Feeling a little down and out... thinking I would have to have a traditional bouquet :(... mom found a piece to the puzzle! A beach grass boutonniere!

Also... right in our backyard, Ryan and I stoped at the Beer and Wine Making store in Standale! They have blue wine bottles like I want for the center of the tables for $18.69 for a case of 12! Costing $1.56 a piece... which is better than drinking over 12 bottles of Leelanau Winter White, which is not my fav.
Slowly, things are coming together... least the little stuff... more research and work needs to be done this week about music.