Joy: Our Wedding – DIY Projects: Final List
Written by Sara on July 7, 2011 – 9:00 am -{Click here to catch up on our wedding recaps:
Hair appointments; Picking up flowers; Getting ready; The Gown; Our First Look, Girls & Guys Attire, More Photos, Jitters and Communion, Ceremony Decor; Our DIY Ceremony Programs, Prayers, Readings and Music, Walking Down the Aisle, More Ceremony Shots, The Getaway Car, Reception Table Centerpieces, Wishing Tree & Photo Displays, Photos From Our DIY Photobooth!, Analysis of our iPod Wedding, Our Honeymoon, List of Wedding Vendors and List of Etsy Sellers}
Hi everyone! I can’t believe that I’m finally to the end of my list of wedding recap posts – it was certainly an adventure to plan our wedding, but it was even more of an adventure to try to recap it in a meaningful way for all of you who care to stop by my little section of the Internet. Lots of thanks and love to all of you for your support and encouragement throughout the planning, execution and recap process!
Here’s a final list of the DIY projects that we took on and completed for the wedding, along with links and/or pictures:
- Flower Hairpieces – Bridesmaids
- Garter & Throw-Away Garter
- Bunting: Cake Table – Reception
- Burlap Table Runner/Table Squares – Reception
- Placecards – Head Table at Reception
- Rehearsal Dinner Invitations
- Napkins – Wedding Reception
- Rice Krispie Wedding Cake
- Photobooth Wall
Tags: DIY projects, wedding DIY projects
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Beauty & Polish, Budget Weddings, Cakes & Cuisine, Decor, DIY, Eco-Chic, Fashion, Flowers, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Photography, Stationery, Vintage Beauties, Wedding Recap, Weddings | 1 Comment »
Joy: Our Wedding – List of Etsy Vendors
Written by Sara on July 6, 2011 – 11:00 am -{Click here to catch up on our wedding recaps:
Hair appointments; Picking up flowers; Getting ready; The Gown; Our First Look, Girls & Guys Attire, More Photos, Jitters and Communion, Ceremony Decor; Our DIY Ceremony Programs, Prayers, Readings and Music, Walking Down the Aisle, More Ceremony Shots, The Getaway Car, Reception Table Centerpieces, Wishing Tree & Photo Displays, Photos From Our DIY Photobooth!, Analysis of our iPod Wedding, Our Honeymoon and List of Wedding Vendors}
Hello all! I’m back with a list of the Etsy sellers that we used. I highly recommend all of them, but the sellers that created custom items for us (especially Lovliday, The Lucky Button and Boutique Sophia) were a dream to work with.
Lovliday: Guestbook Tree
Paloma’s Nest: Bouquet Charm, Jewelry Bowls (for Bridesmaids and Moms) – “You Are” version
Oatmeal Lace Design: Bridal Clutch
LeahLeah: Burlap Pew Bows
The Lucky Button: Boutonnieres
Y&E Bridal: Hair fascinator (flower)
BPoetic: Shoe Clips
Nomsa: Earrings (for Bridesmaids)
Whisker Graphics: Yellow and White Baker’s Twine
Whisker Works: Mustache Props – Photobooth
Love to Create Stamps: Return Address Stamp
Galla 15: Yellow Fashion Ring (Bride)
Allegro Art: Silver Swirl Card Holders – for Reception
Vintage Time Machine: Ladies Vintage Hat – Photobooth
Queen London’s Carriage: Men’s Vintage Hat – Photobooth
Maxim Creative Invites: Monogrammed Stickers – for wedding invitations
Earmark: “Just Married” banner for getaway car
A Remark You Made: Eco-friendly wooden placecard holders
QA Create: Baseball cufflinks (Groom)
Boutique Sophia: Custom flower girl dresses (tutu dresses)
South House Boutique: Burlap wine holder bags – for wedding helper gifts
Satin and Birch: Little soaps – shower hostess gifts
Oh Louise Designs: Personalized Stationery – shower hostess gifts
[Photo by Creative Kindling]
Tags: Etsy
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Beauty & Polish, Budget Weddings, Decor, Eco-Chic, Fashion, Flowers, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Stationery, Vintage Beauties, Wedding Recap, Weddings | Comments Off
Joy: Our Wedding – List of Vendors
Written by Sara on May 18, 2011 – 2:31 pm -
{Click here to catch up on our wedding recaps:
Hair appointments; Picking up flowers; Getting ready; The Gown; Our First Look, Girls & Guys Attire, More Photos, Jitters and Communion, Ceremony Decor; Our DIY Ceremony Programs, Prayers, Readings and Music, Walking Down the Aisle, More Ceremony Shots, The Getaway Car, Reception Table Centerpieces, Wishing Tree & Photo Displays, Photos From Our DIY Photobooth!, Analysis of our iPod Wedding and Our Honeymoon}
I’m finally nearing the end of my wedding recaps, which is fitting, since Jordan and I have been married almost one year already! I can hardly believe that ten months have already passed by; what a blessing it is to have someone by my side each and every day. While our first year of marriage hasn’t been a walk in the park, this year (so far) has been full of blessings.
I wanted to share with you today a list of the vendors that we used throughout planning our wedding, so that any of you local SD brides will have all of these resources in one place! Also, stay tuned for a full list of Etsy vendors that we used – that’s the next post that I’ll write! Also coming up is a final list of the DIY projects that we completed for the wedding, so if you don’t see something listed below (i.e. the boutonnieres or my garters), don’t fret, because it was either purchased from Etsy or DIY!
Materials for Invitations:
Cards & Pockets (ordered online)
Sioux Falls Rubber Stamp, Sioux Falls, SD
Map of Sioux Falls – Wedding Invitations:
Designed by a friend of the bride
Printing:
Brown & Saenger, Sioux Falls, SD
Wedding Rings:
Sara’s Engagement Ring and Wedding Band: Riddle’s Jewelry, Sioux Falls, SD
Jordan’s Wedding Band: Helzberg Diamonds, Sioux Falls, SD
Photographers:
Creative Kindling, Brandon, SD
Florist:
The Flower Shop, Sioux Falls, SD
Sheet Cakes (Remember, we DIYed the Rice Krispie Cake):
HyVee on Sycamore Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD
Manzanita Branches – Wishing Tree:
Save-on-crafts.com (ordered online)
White Shutters – Photo Display:
Purchased from a seller at Benson’s Flea Market (Sioux Falls, SD)
Fabric – Wedding Napkins:
Hancock Fabrics, Sioux Falls, SD
Classic Car:
Borrowed for the day from a friend of the family
Hair and Nails on the Wedding Day:
Hair: Salon Ne-Zhoni, Sioux Falls, SD
Sara’s Manicure: VIP Nails, Sioux Falls, SD
Sara’s Pedicure: Radiance Day Spa, Sioux Falls, SD
Wedding Gown:
Purchased from Happily Ever After, Sioux City, IA (gown was by Alfred Angelo, and has since been discontinued)
Veil:
Purchased from French Door Bridal in Sioux Falls, SD (veil was by Signature Bridal)
Tuxedos:
Rented from Evelyn’s Floral and Formalware in Sioux Falls, SD, a business which has since closed its doors (the tuxedo was by Calvin Klein)
Groomsmen/Ushers Gifts:
Flasks – Brown & Saenger, Sioux Falls, SD
Socks – Express (ordered online)
Ceremony Helpers Gifts:
Wine purchased from HyVee Wine & Spirits, Louise Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD
Bridesmaids Dresses:
The Dessy Group, ordered online from www.bridesmaids.com
Ceremony Site:
Augustana College Chapel of Reconciliation, Sioux Falls, SD
Organist:
Kyle Quanbeck, Sioux Falls, SD
Vocalist:
Sister of the Groom
Catering, Reception Site:
Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, SD
Wedding Weekend Accommodations (Guests):
Holiday Inn City Centre (Downtown), Sioux Falls, SD
Wedding Night Accommodations (Jordan and Sara):
ClubHouse Hotel & Suites, Sioux Falls, SD
I also wanted to make sure that I made a list of places that I shopped for a variety of materials for all kinds of projects:
Hobby Lobby, Sioux Falls, SD
Michaels, Sioux Falls, SD
IKEA, Minneapolis, MN (votive candles)
I think that’s it! In terms of whether or not I would use these same vendors again if I were to do it all over again, the answer is a resounding yes. I was so pleased with all of our vendors, despite some last-minute stress from HyVee regarding our cakes. But, everything couldn’t have been more perfect, and we think back fondly on our wedding day and all of the vendors that made it happen for us. Cards & Pockets is a fabulous online resource for those of you who plan to DIY invitations in the future, and I couldn’t recommend the ladies at Happily Ever After in Sioux City, IA, any higher. The Flower Shop did an extraordinary job realizing my vision for the flowers, and the staff at the Augie Chapel and the Washington Pavilion couldn’t have been more helpful. Brown & Saenger also played a huge role in pulling off our wedding in terms of satisfying all of our printing needs, and our day wouldn’t have been chronicled in such a meaningful way without Creative Kindling. We couldn’t have been more blessed!
If you have any questions, please let me know!
[Photo by Creative Kindling]
Tags: Alfred Angelo, Augustana College, Benson's Flea Market, Brown & Saenger, Cards & Pockets, Chapel of Reconciliation, ClubHouse Hotel & Suites, Creative Kindling, Evelyn's Floral and Formalware, Express, French Door Bridal, Hancock Fabrics, Happily Ever After, Helzberg Diamonds, Hobby Lobby, Holiday Inn City Centre, HyVee, IA, IKEA, Michaels, Radiance Day Spa, Riddle's Jewelry, Salon Ne-Zhoni, Save-on-crafts.com, SD, Signature Bridal, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Rubber Stamp, The Dessy Group, The Flower Shop, VIP Nails, Washington Pavilion
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Beauty & Polish, Budget Weddings, Cakes & Cuisine, Decor, DIY, Eco-Chic, Fashion, Flowers, Honeymoon, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Photography, Stationery, Venues, Vintage Beauties, Wedding Recap | 1 Comment »
WE’RE FEATURED: A Practical Wedding!
Written by Sara on April 14, 2011 – 7:13 am -
Hello readers! Just a little note from me to tell y’all that we’ve been FEATURED on A Practical Wedding today! Jordan and I are so excited to share our wedding with Meg’s wonderfully smart and sassy readers – it’s a great community over there! Feel free to head on over and check it out.
Lots of love (and promises of more wedding recaps soon), Sara
[Photo by Creative Kindling]
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Beauty & Polish, Budget Weddings, Cakes & Cuisine, Decor, DIY, Eco-Chic, Fashion, Flowers, Honeymoon, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Photography, Stationery, Venues, Vintage Beauties, Weddings | 2 Comments »
Joy: Our Wedding – Analysis of Our iPod Wedding
Written by Sara on February 18, 2011 – 9:00 am -
When we were first making lists of priorities for our wedding, we knew that we weren’t psyched about the idea of spending money on a DJ to make our wedding dance memorable. While I would have loved to have a live band entertain us for the evening, that just wasn’t in the budget, so we decided to run the music ourselves, thanks to our handy dandy iPod.
For me, as a type-A personality and a control freak, having absolute control over the music played at our wedding was a MUST, and for the cost of renting speakers, we had an instant DJ set-up that was A) be cost-effective for our budget; and B) reflected who we are as a couple, as all of the songs were selected by us (and by our friends and family members).
One of the most helpful things that we chose to do was to utilize Google Docs to manage the multitude of song lists and playlists that we made before actually creating the iPod playlists. Jordan and I both are Gmail fans, so Google Docs proved extremely useful to us throughout our wedding planning. Side note: We actually utilized Google Docs for A TON of wedding-related documents, including day-of agendas, our guest list, ceremony script, reminders of phone numbers and things to bring with me to the ceremony site, and our wedding budget spreadsheet.
Below is the process we went through to compile our wedding dance playlist; NOTE: We only used the iPod at our reception; we had live music (piano and organ) before, during and after our ceremony:
The Process
1. Combined our music libraries together by transferring our songs over to Jordan’s computer, using a combination of an external hard drive and a few jump drives.
2. We listened to nearly every song in our newly combined library, making lists of songs that, to us, sounded like “good wedding dinner/dance material.”
3. We divided our lists of “good wedding dinner/dance material” into two separate lists, one devoted to “Dinner & Mingling Music” and one dedicated to “Dance Party Music.”
4. We mailed out our wedding invitations, including a Song Request card. As these began to arrive in the mail, we kept a running list of the songs that were requested. While we didn’t have enough time in our wedding dance to include absolutely every song, we used trusty Google Docs to manage this list.
5. While we were wrangling Song Request cards and simultaneously putting together these two separate playlists for dinner and for dancing, we also made sure to keep an ongoing list of songs that we wanted to download. Again, thanks to Google Docs, this was easy for both of us to update a centralized list.
6. Now it came time to actually download the songs and put together the playlists! Creating the playlists was Jordan’s pet project, which he approached in the following way: he listened to each song that made the cut as either “good wedding dinner/dance material”and/or was a song requested by one of our guests. Then, he basically used his own discretion in placing the songs together in a playlist, paying attention to the ratio of fast songs to slow songs and the way that the overall wedding dance flowed and built from one song to another. He made the playlists span approximately three to four hours each, just to be safe. We didn’t need that much music, especially for dinner…I would estimate 2 hours at most for dinner, but the dance playlist felt right, although we never reached the end of the playlist before taking off at the end of the evening.
For the “Dinner and Mingling Music” playlist, we simply created a playlist based on how the music felt to us. If it felt like dinner music, it went into the playlist. Some examples of songs that we used: Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash’s “Jackson,” Katrina & The Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine,” and selections by Elvis, Dean Martin, Ingrid Michaelson, Howie Day, The White Stripes, James Taylor and Hootie & The Blowfish.
For the wedding dance playlist, I had read somewhere (I forget where!) that for every slow song that is played, seven fast songs should be played, so he kept that ratio in mind as he compiled the lists. NOTE: We frontloaded the wedding dance playlist with all of our special music, including our first dance, the father-daughter dance, the mother-son dance, and the parents’ dance (we honored our parents with a special dance just for them).
In terms of the songs that we chose for our wedding dance, we chose to kick off the dance party with Goldfinger’s “99 Red Balloons.” This was a fun, high-energy song that really set the tone for the rest of the dance. In terms of the rest of the dance, we threw in a bunch of our favorite songs (like Backstreet Boys classics, Blink-182 hits, and classic Sinatra) with song requests (which varied from Serbian music to the Black Eyed Peas to the Spice Girls!).
7. After all of the songs were downloaded (we probably spent $30 at most on downloads, a bargain compared to the average cost of a DJ or live band) and the draft playlists were created using iTunes, Jordan loaded the playlists onto my iPod so that I could listen and make edits. I was largely impressed with the playlists that he created, especially since neither of us had ever had experience in creating a playlist that, to us, would be responsible for setting the tone of our wedding dance.
8. After all of the playlists were finalized, we burned the playlists to an iPod, making sure to CHARGE the iPod before the dance! It was as simple as that. We also burned the playlists on another iPod to use as a back-up, just in case the first iPod faltered…we never ran into this problem, though (luckily)!
9. The day of the wedding, we had one of our groomsmen meet up with our MC for the night, a coworker and friend of mine, to set-up and discuss the operation of the iPod during the wedding reception. We instructed our friend (and my Dad, too, as a back-up) to start the “Dinner & Mingling Music” playlist on the iPod as soon as they arrived at the reception.
Issues That Occurred
- Our playlists were somehow formatted to “shuffle” at the beginning of the wedding reception, so when we arrived at the reception, we sent one of our groomsmen up to fix that issue. Luckily, most of our guests had yet to arrive, so it wasn’t a big deal!
- The volume of each song was a bit inconsistent, which was frustrating at times. I’m sure that a more experienced techie would have a recommendation to remedy this, but for us newbies, we were proud of our playlist, despite this issue.
- The most significant issue we had was related to the dollar dance. The dollar dance is big in our neck of the woods, and happens at nearly every wedding reception, so we thought we’d join in the fun. But, if we could do it over again, we would have switched to the “Dinner & Mingling Music” playlist for the duration of the dollar dance, instead of attempting to guess how many songs we would need for the dollar dance. At a few different points during the dollar dance, I had to interrupt my dance with a guest to move our playlist backward to keep the slow, dollar-dance-appropriate songs playing. This problem could also have been alleviated by creating a dollar dance playlist to switch to during this part of the wedding dance.
Lessons Learned
- Get in touch with your techie side. Tweak settings for volume control. Learn what crossfade means.
- Think about possibly bringing your computer and playing the playlist directly from iTunes. It’s more user-friendly than an iPod, and you can make playlist edits and/or additions on-site with an Internet connection.
- However, know when to trust your gut. Technology can only tell you or do so much – think of your own musical tastes, and the musical tastes of your guests. Working hard to create playlists that you love will help to get others out on the dance floor – you set the example!
- Know when to use multiple playlists. Like I said above, creating a “Dollar Dance” playlist would have alleviated a headache during the middle of the wedding dance. Maybe a “Cake Cutting” playlist or a “Speeches” playlist makes sense to you; go with it!
- Ask someone familiar with technology (and, maybe, someone who isn’t a close friend or someone you want to enjoy the wedding festivities along with you) to act as “DJ/MC” for the night, and consider paying them. You’re saving money already by not hiring a DJ or a live band – why not throw a few bones to a coworker, acquaintance, friend of a friend, etc. for their services?
Other Resources
Check out these posts on A Practical Wedding and $2000 Wedding about DJing your own wedding via iPod. Good luck! Any questions – feel free to leave them in the comments!
[Photo by Creative Kindling]
Tags: ipod wedding
Posted in Budget Weddings, DIY, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Wedding Recap | 3 Comments »
Joy: Our Wedding – Photos From Our DIY Photobooth!
Written by Sara on January 7, 2011 – 9:40 am -
{Click here to catch up on our wedding recaps:
Hair appointments; Picking up flowers; Getting ready; The Gown; Our First Look, Girls & Guys Attire, More Photos, Jitters and Communion, Ceremony Decor; Our DIY Ceremony Programs, Prayers, Readings and Music, Walking Down the Aisle, More Ceremony Shots, The Getaway Car, Reception Table Centerpieces and Wishing Tree & Photo Displays}
I was totally bitten by the photobooth bug early on in my efforts to make our wedding enjoyable and fun for us and for our larger community that supports us day in and day out. My father-in-law helped me to build our photobooth from plywood, wallpaper, crown molding and a picture frame; I love the way it turned out!
Here’s how it worked: we set up the photobooth after the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, at the same time that we were decorating the reception space. My father-in-law made the photobooth collapsable by sawing the plywood in half hot-dog style and attaching hinges, so that the photobooth was easy to transport. We set up a digital camera on a tripod in front of the photobooth, so when our wedding guests utilized the photobooth, they also brought up another friend to take the photos for them. We also provided props for our guests:
Here are a few shots from our photobooth from our photographers, Creative Kindling:
Up next: Our reception food + our wedding cakes!
[All photos by Creative Kindling, our talented photographers]
Tags: Creative Kindling, DIY Photobooth
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Budget Weddings, Decor, DIY, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Photography, Venues, Vintage Beauties, Wedding Recap, Weddings | Comments Off
Joy: Our Wedding – Walking Down the Aisle!
Written by Sara on November 20, 2010 – 9:28 am -{Click here to catch up on our wedding recaps:
Hair appointments; Picking up flowers; Getting ready; The Gown; Our First Look, Girls & Guys Attire, More Photos, Jitters and Communion, Ceremony Decor and Our DIY Ceremony Programs, Prayers, Readings and Music}
After communion, my father and I spent a few moments alone in the pastor’s office. I was a nervous wreck – I knew that the moment had finally come to walk down the aisle, and that made me nervous! I wasn’t nervous at all to marry Jordan, but I was nervous for everyone to look at me! Silly, I know, and looking back, I overreacted, but in the moment, I was taking in and living my authentic emotions.
While my father and I were waiting for our turn to walk down the aisle, Jordan escorted my grandmother and our mothers in, and then he took his place with my Uncle Rick for the ceremony:
This picture below is one of my absolute favorites from the entire wedding; it makes me so, so proud to call my father mine, because he’s such a wonderful man:
He was a complete gem that day, so calm, telling light-hearted jokes to make me giggle and smile and forget that in a few moments, everyone in that church would be watching me walk down the aisle. He revealed the next day, at our gift-opening brunch, that he too was nervous to walk in front of the 130 guests in attendance, but I never would have guessed it. Both of my parents were so wonderful on our wedding day; they both had joy in their eyes that I won’t ever forget. My mother was with me the majority of the day, helping me to get dressed – it was an emotional day, and it was wonderful to have my parents with me.
After our groomsmen and our bridesmaids took their places, and our flower girls graced the aisle with yellow rose petals, it was finally our turn.
With my sister-in-law singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as I walked, I felt goosebumps take over my arms. I clutched my dad’s arm, and when I saw Jordan, I grew so, so excited. Today was our day; it was finally here.
Up next: More photos from the ceremony!
[All photos by the outstanding Creative Kindling]
Tags: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Walking Down the Aisle
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Beauty & Polish, Budget Weddings, Decor, DIY, Fashion, Flowers, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Photography, Venues, Vintage Beauties, Wedding Recap, Weddings | 5 Comments »
Joy: Our Wedding – Ceremony Music, Readings, Prayers & DIY Programs!
Written by Sara on November 12, 2010 – 4:32 pm -{Click here to catch up on our wedding recaps:
Hair appointments; Picking up flowers; Getting ready; The Gown; Our First Look, Girls & Guys Attire, More Photos, Jitters and Communion and Ceremony Decor}
Jordan and I wrote our wedding ceremony together from a sample Methodist wedding ceremony, given to me by my uncle, who was performing our ceremony. I labored over the prayers and the readings in particular, because I wanted every bit of that ceremony to reflect Jordan and I.
So, here’s what we ended up using:
Music – I walked down the aisle to my lovely sister-in-law’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I still get all starry-eyed every time I hear that song, because it makes me think of clutching my dad’s arm, and of seeing Jordan at the end of the aisle.
We also had my sister-in-law sing “We Are Man & Wife” by Michelle Featherstone while we signed our marriage license. Every time I hear this song (it’s evidently a song that my Itunes DJ likes to play), I smile from ear to ear. This song will always make me think about our wedding, and I get tears in my eyes whenever I hear it. It’s such a special, emotional, personal song for me.
Readings – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Excerpt – The Velveteen Rabbit (found here); “i carry your heart with me” – e.e. cummings
I’ve loved the Ecclesiastes verses ever since I was young; the notion that “two are better than one” gives me tingles inside, and the imagery of the three cords (one for each of us, and one for God) remaining unbroken is the strongest symbol of marriage that I’ve ever heard.
The Velveteen Rabbit reading sort of fell into my lab one day as I was scanning the blogosphere for reading ideas; I love, love, LOVE it. It’s the first book that we’ll give to our (someday, future) child, I think. These are the words that Mommy and Daddy read at their wedding ceremony. I’m tearing up already.
Lastly, the e.e. cummings poem was so, so perfect for us. I had the lovely Paloma’s Nest on Etsy make me a bouquet charm that read, “i carry your heart with me,” and it’s such an evocative poem…makes me giggly thinking of my husband carrying my heart in his.
Prayer – I really, really wanted to honor our grandparents (we’ve lost seven of our eight grandparents) at our wedding. In addition to the seven candles that we placed on the altar, my uncle and I also composed a grandparents prayer, which went like this:
Through the joys and struggles of life, you two have emerged as unique people, thanks to God, your family and friends, including some who have gone before us. Our prayers go out to them this day as well as to others who, for whatever reason, cannot be here in person.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving especially for the grandparents who have fostered your dreams and enriched your lives. We remember today and always the lives of [names], honoring their contributions to your lives.
All who cannot be here today still share in our joy through the Spirit of LOVE, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. We praise God for His presence with us, and especially in the solemn creation of this marriage covenant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. -Amen-
This prayer was so, so emotional for me; it took almost everything I had not to cry.
And, here are a few pictures of our DIY programs…an 8-page labor of love that Jordan and I created while holed up for a weekend in his tiny, tiny apartment watching the ENTIRE Lord of the Rings series.
Up next: Walking Down the Aisle!
[All photos by the fantastically talented Creative Kindling]
Tags: ceremony music, DIY wedding ceremony programs, prayer for grandparents, wedding ceremony readings, wedding prayers
Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Beauty & Polish, Budget Weddings, Decor, DIY, Inspiration & Insight, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Photography, Stationery, Venues, Vintage Beauties, Wedding Recap, Weddings | 4 Comments »
18 Days Out…
Written by Sara on June 29, 2010 – 3:14 pm -
…and I’m feeling fine!
That’s right, readers – dare I say that my obsessive need to work ahead has paid off…here are the projects we have left:
- Cut squares of fabric for the tables. When we’ll get it done: this weekend.
- Sew a lining into the flower girl dresses. When we’ll get it done: this weekend.
- Gather (and print, if necessary) a few pictures of Jordan and I for a photo feature. When we’ll get it done: by Friday.
- Wrangle and frame few more wedding pictures of our relatives. When we’ll get it done: this weekend, hopefully.
- Practice making our DIY tiered surprise wedding cake. When we’ll get it done: this weekend, hopefully.
- Print and mail gift-opening invites. When we’ll get it done: this needs to happen ASAP!
- Fold napkins. When we’ll get it done: first round tomorrow, second and final round hopefully next week.
- Reception playlist. When we’ll get it done: probably next weekend; it’s about 70% done right now.
- Silhouettes (of Jordan and I) for frames. When we’ll get it done: next weekend; we just need to format and print.
- Finalize pew decor. When we’ll get it done: tonight.
- Purchase gifts for our parents and our ceremony helpers. When we’ll get it done: next Friday (payday!).
- Tie baker’s twine on the programs. When we’ll get it done: Probably the week of the wedding…eek.
- Take photos of decor, pack up decor items in boxes according to tables. When we’ll get it done: next weekend. BIG project, but I hope to have lots of help.
- Get our marriage license. When we’ll get this done: the Wednesday of the wedding week.
I have my hair trial and my final make-up trial on Thursday and my final gown fitting on Saturday. We also are having our premarital counseling session with my uncle, our officiant, on Saturday. We also turn in our guaranteed guest count to the Pavilion on Saturday. My wedding week beauty treatments are all scheduled, with the exception of a manicure appointment…truthfully, I may just paint my own nails!
Things are coming together really nicely – I hope that I’m not forgetting anything!?
[Photo: www.free-flow-coaching.com]
Tags: DIY wedding, Wedding zen
Posted in Budget Weddings, Cakes & Cuisine, Decor, DIY, Fashion, Music & Entertainment, Our Wedding, Personal, Stationery, Weddings | 2 Comments »
What We’ve Been Up To…
Written by Sara on June 16, 2010 – 2:52 pm -Hello readers! Again, I apologize for not posting much these past few weeks; it’s been a whirlwind to say the least. With only one month to go until the wedding (!!), Jordan and I have been hard at work finishing up last-minute details with our families and friends.
Here’s what we’ve been doing:
- Last week, I spent the evening building our photo booth with the great help of my future father-in-law. The photo booth turned out wonderfully; I can’t wait to see how it looks in our wedding photos! I hope to provide a full tutorial for you all at some point, so stay tuned…
- Made a list of must-have photos for our photographers, and met with our lovely photogs to discuss our wedding day. I’m SO excited that we’ve chosen such wonderful and supportive photographers; they will be so great to have with us on our wedding day, and I know that Kara will help to keep me relaxed.
- Started tanning! While I’m definitely not a fan of how bad tanning beds are for my skin, I do need to build up a base tan of sorts before heading off to Jamaica. So, I’ve stared tanning a few times per week!
- Started the napkins process! With the great help of my bridesmaid Serena and her mother, we’re making headway with the DIY napkins project! We’re about halfway through the project, and I plan to bring the last batch of fabric over to Serena’s home this week for cutting.
- Mailed our rehearsal dinner invitations. They turned out wonderfully, and we’re so excited for our Italian-themed rehearsal dinner!
- Ordered 3 one-half sheet cakes for our wedding reception. We ordered 1/2 sheet of red velvet (my favorite!), one half sheet of strawberry (Jordan’s favorite) and one half sheet of vanilla cake from a local bakery. I’m glad to have that completed!
- Set up a final meeting with our on-site reception coordinator and our florist to cover last-minute details. Both of these appointments are next week, and I’m excited to finalize all of the details!
- Set up a meeting to visit the chapel where our ceremony will take place. I’m visiting my alma mater, Augustana College, this week to set up decorations around the chapel to see what they look like. I’m excited to see how/if the pew bows will attach to the pews…frankly, that’s all I’m concerned about. I know that everything else will look great!
- Finalized gifts for the groomsmen and ushers; everything should be done next week, so I can wrap the gifts!
- Secured a classic car to transport Jordan and I from the ceremony to the reception!
- Got the guys measured for tuxes! Only a few of our guys have yet to do this, and they’re under strict instructions to do so ASAP.
- Finalized our wedding ceremony script. Yes!
- Trying to wrangle wedding pictures of our relatives; I only need a few more pictures, and we’ll be set!
I think that’s it!
Here’s what we have left:
- Our reception playlist. We’ve started working on it, but Jordan’s school quarter ends this Friday, so Jordan will have a lot more time to devote to finalizing our playlist starting next week. This is his pet project, and I’m excited to help with this process as much as I can.
- Getting a few more props for the photo booth, as well as finding/purchasing baskets for the day’s needs, a few picture frames, and a few props for our wedding photos on the wedding day.
- Figuring out what camera to use for the photo booth.
- Print the wedding programs. We’re waiting for the final OK from our officiant, and as soon as we have that, we’re good to go!
- Cutting table squares and a table runner for the reception; we are purchasing the fabric today, so it won’t be too long before this project is off our list.
- Sew a lining into our flower girl dresses. Again, the fabric for this has been purchased, so hopefully we can finalize this project soon.
- Purchase a gift for my personal attendant and our parents, as well as gifts for our hosts & hostesses and our ceremony reader.
- Gift-opening preparation and invitations.
- Bring my engagement ring and wedding band into the jeweler to be soldered and plated.
- Premarital counseling session with my uncle, our officiant, to discuss our personality inventory.
- Discuss our DIY tiered wedding cake with my mother, and maybe practice making a cake.
- Final wedding gown fitting; I’m so excited for this part!
- Final hair and make-up trial, as well as week-of beauty treatments; again, SO excited!
- Wrap gifts and box up ceremony/reception decor.
- Marriage license.
- Meet with our travel agent to finalize details for our honeymoon, and pack for our honeymoon.
- GET MARRIED!
Surprisingly, my stress level is rather low; while I know that there’s still more things to do, I feel remarkably calm heading into the final month before the wedding.
How are you handling wedding stress?
Tags: wedding timeline, wedding to-do list
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