Peacock Inspiration Photos

I am swamped! Like utterly and tragically swamped with life and work!! And yet I keep feeling horrible that I'm not posting. I promise this should all get better in January.

But in the meantime I saw an awesome peacock-inspired photo (first below) and thought I should just include some photos of different ways you can include peacock feathers in your wedding. If I get a second later, I might find some more photos.

What to Bring With You...

As a total sidetrack to the post I am about to write, I must tell you that in preparation for a Christmas-time event happening tomorrow I had to go to Costco today and pick up prizes for employees to win. If you are looking for a present for someone and want to get them something great without spending a million dollars, you must stop in! I spent about $300 on gifts and got at least 20 different gifts...and not stupid ones you wouldn't want to win. I mean an iHome, movie tickets, fuzzy blankets, cool kitchen and home items, great food and coffee gift baskets, and more.

But aside from that little piece of wisdom, I am writing today to tell you what you should bring with you to a Christian ceremony and the reception (sorry I'm not as familiar with Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu weddings). And by no means do I mean that it has to be you actually bringing the items. Put a bridesmaid, a family member, a planner, or anyone you can trust in charge of these things when possible, because you might end up getting so busy that day you forget.

This list is taken from Mindy Weiss's "The Wedding Book" coupled with my own advice:

TO THE CEREMONY...

• Wedding day emergency kit (see my previous post on what to include in one)
• Copy of the vows (needed for memorization or to have in case you forget) unless you're simply repeating what the officiant tells you
  
• Programs (you should make sure to print one per attendee plus extras just in case someone loses theirs or wants to take an extra home as a souvenir) and anything you'll be keeping them in, unless you're having someone stand there the entire time to personally hand them out
  
• Wedding rings (well duh!)--let the honor attendants do their job and be responsible for this one
• Ring bearer's pillow (don't tie the rings on until the last second, if you actually tie them on at all)
• Marriage license (the officiant will mail it in, so stamp the envelope and enclose a check to cover extra copies)
• Guest book and pen (whether this is a book, a photo frame, a tree to thumbprint, etc.) and I'd encourage you to bring pens (plural) as many have a tendency to run out or decide not to work for the fun of it
• Unity candle (if you're having one)
• Handkerchief, for bride if necessary
• Anything that will be handed out to guests (bells, fans, candles, etc.)
• Extra copy of the shot list for the photographer (your planner should already have this one under control if they're worth much)
• Schedule of events (again your planner should have this and extra copies, but it's a great idea to give each of your attendants and his a copy!)
• Boutonnieres (unless your floral designer is bringing them to the ceremony site)
• Bouquets (see above)
• Corsages (see above)
• Box for gift envelopes (have someone assigned to watch it if you're worried about anyone stealing some...I would never think of this happening, but I've heard a lot of stories to the contrary) if you're having a gift table at the ceremony
• Gratuities for vendors (if they're only coming to the ceremony, include the officiant tip here)
  

TO THE RECEPTION...

• Wedding day emergency kit (just drag it from the ceremony to the reception, where it should be less needed, but you never know)
• Guest book and pen (guests will not have all signed it at the ceremony so make sure to catch those stragglers at the reception
• Box for gift envelopes
• Gratuities for vendors (for tipping amounts, see my previous post) in name and vendor type labeled envelopes--sealed of course
  
• Tossing garter (if you don't already have it on)
• Tossing bouquet (likely your florist already has it at the reception site, but in case not)
• Cake-cutting knife (usually a shower gift, make sure it's laid on the cake table at the beginning of the reception if it's nice)
• Toasting glasses (again it's great to showcase them on the cake table when possible)
• Any items such as personal photos that you're using to personalize the space (try to have these preset instead of having to set them up really quick in between the ceremony and reception)
• Personalized cocktail napkins (again try to have pre-set, not getting laid out during the reception)
• Favors (if you can't already have them at the location; I think it's a great idea to have them at individual seats)
• Seating Cards (I vote for pre-setting them before the ceremony, but if not, make sure they get displayed before anyone would have reason to sit down at a table)
• Table Numbers (should be pre-placed if possible)
• Place Cards (see seating cards)
• Menus
• Extra copies of the shot list and "do-not-play" lists for the dj (again your planner should be on top of this if you have one)
• Extra copies of the schedule of events (for vendors only at the reception)
• Extra pair of shoes for the bride (let's face it, we all want to wear heels at the wedding, but prefer sneakers or flip flops by the end of the night...and no one will see them beneath your dress unless you want them to)
• Amenities for the restrooms, such as breath mints, deoderant, and safety pins
• A copy of any dvd or video you're showing (so I mean one for the person playing it and another just in case...make sure to test them both before the wedding)
• Extra cd of the first dance song (cause let's face it...it's probably the one you care the most about if it were to go wrong)..and if you want to be totally safe, put all of your ceremony and reception must have's on a second disk.
• MP3 player and speakers if you're providing the music (risky but definitely cost efficient)

So that's the list, and undoubtedly there are more items, depending specifically on the individual wedding. Just try to double check everything the night before. I recommend laying it all out beforehand, organizing it as best as possible, double counting and checking everything, and then putting it all in one bag or two and assigning people to be in charge of them. Try to double check that you have the bags before you leave each venue. Your planner can also be in charge of this as necessary.

For more questions about what to bring with you, email me at triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com. Happy Planning (and PS only 17 days until Christmas!)

Photo Inspiration: Table Decor

Here are a selection of photos from my personal photo library, which I'm hoping will inspire future brides and grooms in deciding what to do with their tablescapes.


I do not know where all of these pictures came from (i.e. who came up with the great designs), but here's the information I do have:

Picture 1 is from Amorology Weddings and Twigg Botanicals.
Pictures 3 and 8 florals are from JL Designs.
Pictures 4, 5, and 7 are from Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style Magazine.

For all others, if I have not given your photo proper credit, please feel free to contact me so that I can make sure to do so. Thanks!

DIY Inspiration: Floral Garland

I saw this DIY project last week on Once Wed and meant to get it up, but somehow it got lost in the Holiday shuffle.On the site are the instructions (complete with photos) to make this beautiful floral garland. You could use this garland anywhere in your wedding reception (or possibly even the wedding space). Just make sure to pick colors and fabrics that complement your theme or color scheme. I might even play with the spacing, making the flowers in the center very close and slowly spacing them out more and more towards the end for a cool effect when hung as they are in the picture, but with a strand above and below.

So check out the instructions HERE and begin such an easy and totally great looking project for your big day!

My Wedding in Real Time: Wedding Dresses

So I've been wanting to try on wedding dresses since the day I got engaged. I mean what bride doesn't? But then a) I knew the wedding was a long ways away and b) even my family said I should wait awhile. Then I decided on October. I couldn't wait any longer. But my mom at the same time suggested we take a trip up to Seattle and make a big weekend of it in January. I guess that was enough to hold off a bit. I likely won't buy a dress there (because who wants to drive 6 hours to go to a fitting) but they have a larger selection, so I can at least find "the dress" and then buy it at a boutique in Oregon...or if I have no option, so be it, at least I can show my license and not have to pay sales tax.

So in the meantime I've been searching the web looking at photos of wedding dresses. I haven't found "the dress" online, but I have found some ones I like. I show them to G (yes I know some of you out there are screaming because he's not supposed to see the dress but I don't even know what I'll buy yet, so I might as well get his opinion). Bummer part is, he rarely likes the dresses I pick out. So I'm hoping that he just loves how good I look and forgets about the dress if he doesn't like it as I walk down the aisle. Another point I have to remember is budget. It's really hard to find an exact price of a dress online, so I've tried my best to figure out the general range for a designer and go with that, but of course you fall in love with that one designer dress you'll never be able to afford. I won't show you my favorite(s) but here are some of the dresses I've considered:



Best part about the wedding dress shopping weekend in Seattle (other than doing it with my family), is that it's the Seattle Bridal Show that weekend so I'll get to get so many great ideas while I'm there and on our way back home on Sunday we're stopping by the Portland Bridal Show so that I can find some local vendors for the few other things I don't have figured out yet. FYI tickets are available online for the Seattle Show and you can print a coupon for the Portland one from their site as well. The show weekend runs January 16 & 17 in both cities.

Honestly I am so excited! How soon did you decide to shop for your wedding dress and did you make a big deal of it or just go by yourself or with a casual friend? Fill me in.

Happy shopping to all of you!

~A