Friday was a big day. We went ahead and booked out photographer.
Over the last month I have been checking out every photographer from here to Sioux City, IA to northern Minnesota. Everyone I really like is way too expensive and everyone that seems to have ok pictures ends up being affordable.
The photographer we chose is Erin Smith, Life in Picture Photography. She is from Arlington, SD and works part time at Harold’s in the portrait studio and is just starting up her own photography business. I met with her about a month ago as we both really like the pictures she had posted on her blog site, she was also relatively inexpensive, and we soon found out she didn’t have a whole lot of experience. After meeting with her, we still liked her work, but I wanted to look around and see if I could find someone with a few more weddings under their belt.
So, what changed our, or my mind? It seems like since we got engaged, so did ½ the people at the bank. As we started talking dresses, flowers, and pictures, I kept mentioning Erin’s name. Most of the people ended up checking her site and asking for pricing information because, they too liked her work. Well, it occurred to me. I keep telling all of these people about this photographer, why don’t I have her booked? Or what am I going to do when I am finally ready to book her and then she already has a wedding that day? There isn’t anyone else we really like.
I talked to Randy, and he said was ready to book her 2 months ago. So I did. I signed the contract wrote her a check and dropped it in the mail. It feels really good to know that the photographer is booked. We are getting a good price and she is all ours for the ENTIRE day. She comes with me to the salon and will stay as long into the dance as we want her too.
I am excited. Having her booked, lets me cross one more thing off my list. Now, we move onto our DJ…
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
DIY Project #2
I wouldn’t call myself a do-it-yourself bride at all. Everything that I thought that I might want to make, I have decided that it would be easier and really not much more expensive to have someone else take care of it. Take invitations for example. By the time you buy the 2 or 3 different kinds of paper, ink for your printer or pay someone to have them printed, ribbon or any extras, and the time it will take to put 200+ invitations together. I can go to a place in Sioux Falls and have them printed, assembled, and ready to go for about $100 more. Sold.
There are a few projects that I am going to tackle on my own. People are probably looking at my heading on this one and saying when did I miss project #1? DIY project #1 is how I asked my bridesmaids to be in the wedding. Since I haven’t asked them all yet, I can’t tell you how I did it. Stay tuned for pictures, as I will share later!!
So, project #2
About 2 years ago, we were down and Randy’s cousin’s wedding in Iowa. There is always the lag time between the bride and groom arriving, food being served, etc. Anyone under the age or probably 10 has an attention span of what 5 minutes? At this wedding each kid was given a coloring book and 4 crayons. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know for the 2 girls at my table, it definitely kept them busy for awhile.
This is something I can tackle. I have prices out crayons, and printing a few coloring sheets, cheap. I think it will be something nice to have for smaller children to keep them busy when their parents have run out of ideas on what to keep them occupied with. I have also thought of going one step further and making a small activity kit. It would just include a few more things, stickers, crayons, and whatever else I can find.
This is something that I can work on now. I have found some pictures to use and some little mazes and matching games to put in the book. I am going to start getting some things printed, work on a cover and find my cheapest place to buy crayons!
There are a few projects that I am going to tackle on my own. People are probably looking at my heading on this one and saying when did I miss project #1? DIY project #1 is how I asked my bridesmaids to be in the wedding. Since I haven’t asked them all yet, I can’t tell you how I did it. Stay tuned for pictures, as I will share later!!
So, project #2
About 2 years ago, we were down and Randy’s cousin’s wedding in Iowa. There is always the lag time between the bride and groom arriving, food being served, etc. Anyone under the age or probably 10 has an attention span of what 5 minutes? At this wedding each kid was given a coloring book and 4 crayons. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know for the 2 girls at my table, it definitely kept them busy for awhile.
This is something I can tackle. I have prices out crayons, and printing a few coloring sheets, cheap. I think it will be something nice to have for smaller children to keep them busy when their parents have run out of ideas on what to keep them occupied with. I have also thought of going one step further and making a small activity kit. It would just include a few more things, stickers, crayons, and whatever else I can find.
This is something that I can work on now. I have found some pictures to use and some little mazes and matching games to put in the book. I am going to start getting some things printed, work on a cover and find my cheapest place to buy crayons!
Limos, cakes, photographers…oh my!
So if a person didn’t come up with enough ideas on their own on how to spend money at their wedding, they have bridal shows to help you out. Mom, Amy and I hit up a show in Sioux Falls a couple weeks. It was interesting. Limos, cakes, wine, photographers…oh my!
Within the last month there have been 2 bridal shows in Sioux Falls. Got to go. Chances to win prizes, money, all sorts of stuff. Most of all I have been interested in the photographers and DJs. One of my websites sent me and email the other day. It basically reminds me how many days left until the wedding. This week it told me that I am 10 months 2 weeks and some amount of days away, until the big day.
I need to pick a photographer. So we wondered thru the 7 or 8 isles of wedding stuff and talked to a few people. We check out their pictures, then their pricing, picked up our jaws off the floor and moved on.
I had no idea wedding pictures were going to cost so much money. I want someone that is good, but I don’t want to have to spend a fortune. After all how often do you look at your wedding album and wedding pictures? Especially after you have kids, how many pictures of your wedding do you keep on the wall? And we keep looking….
Another thing that we are looking into is having someone come in and help us decorate. The one problem with the Days Inn is that you can only get in at noon on the day of your event to decorate. Oh yeah, how in the world are you suppose to get that done during, hair, pictures, and all the other preparations that are going to go into that day.
I have talked with a couple of people who do the decorating for you. You rent your centerpieces, candles, coffee beans, whatever you want from them. But the best part is that they come in and talk care of everything for you. You tell them what you want, pick it out and you are done. No one has to haul everything around make sure it gets there and is set up and hold their breath that we are going to like it.
Still need to work out some of the details and talk to a few more people, but for a couple hundred bucks I think this might be the way to go. The last thing I want is for people to worry about how it is going to look and if we are going to like and to hurry up and get it done to try and make the 2:30 wedding. I want everyone to just relax and just have fun.
Within the last month there have been 2 bridal shows in Sioux Falls. Got to go. Chances to win prizes, money, all sorts of stuff. Most of all I have been interested in the photographers and DJs. One of my websites sent me and email the other day. It basically reminds me how many days left until the wedding. This week it told me that I am 10 months 2 weeks and some amount of days away, until the big day.
I need to pick a photographer. So we wondered thru the 7 or 8 isles of wedding stuff and talked to a few people. We check out their pictures, then their pricing, picked up our jaws off the floor and moved on.
I had no idea wedding pictures were going to cost so much money. I want someone that is good, but I don’t want to have to spend a fortune. After all how often do you look at your wedding album and wedding pictures? Especially after you have kids, how many pictures of your wedding do you keep on the wall? And we keep looking….
Another thing that we are looking into is having someone come in and help us decorate. The one problem with the Days Inn is that you can only get in at noon on the day of your event to decorate. Oh yeah, how in the world are you suppose to get that done during, hair, pictures, and all the other preparations that are going to go into that day.
I have talked with a couple of people who do the decorating for you. You rent your centerpieces, candles, coffee beans, whatever you want from them. But the best part is that they come in and talk care of everything for you. You tell them what you want, pick it out and you are done. No one has to haul everything around make sure it gets there and is set up and hold their breath that we are going to like it.
Still need to work out some of the details and talk to a few more people, but for a couple hundred bucks I think this might be the way to go. The last thing I want is for people to worry about how it is going to look and if we are going to like and to hurry up and get it done to try and make the 2:30 wedding. I want everyone to just relax and just have fun.
Dress Shopping
So, with weddings on Saturdays and other events filling up our weekends, I have been trying to find some time to dress shop. Most of the places I go remind me that I want to order my dress about 6 months out. That gives time for them to make it and gives me a couple months for alterations.
I have been looking….and looking…..and looking. I have found some dresses that I like, but they are just ok. By far not the one I see myself getting married in.
At Ryan’s wedding few weeks ago we were hanging out at the dance. I looked at my mom and I told her that tomorrow would be the day. I had checked enough places and we were going to find my dress that Sunday.
The next morning, we showered up and headed to the French Door in Sioux Falls. Amy was coming with again, and I guess Luke had no better options and he showed up too. I grabbed a bunch in the style I have liked. Strapless with a wrap or gather around the waist. Some had a little beading, others had a lot with lace and whatever and I was trying them all on. I found one I liked. It has some beading, a wrapped waist, diamond white and a corset back. Yes…put this one on my list of likes. I also grabbed 1 that wasn’t really like anything I had tried before. It was fabric at the top with a little beading and then a different beaded design down to my waist. It wasn’t the right one for me. The beading stopped in a weird spot on my waist and I just didn’t like it.
The sales lady, Monica, pulled out another one that was similar. A little more deal, and more beads, but it again stopped in that weird spot. I said nah, and had her put it back on the rack. Amy, Luke’s girlfriend, was with us again and just didn’t like that I put that dress away. She grabbed it off the rack and said this one is really pretty; you just need to try it. Before I even had a chance to disagree she had it out of the bag and in my dressing room.
Oh man, I might owe her big time. Unfortunately this dress didn’t zip all the way up, but everything else about it was pretty much perfect. I really, really, really like this one. There is just enough beading, but not too much, and the train is absolutely beautiful. It is beaded all the way down the back and around. I just really liked this one. At one point I looked back at my brother and said “Hey, what do you think?” “That one is pretty nice,” he said, “I really like it.” Man if you can get approval from your brother that you look good, it must look good!
I wanted to try on the other one that I had liked. So, I put that one back on, had her tie me back in the first one. Oh, it was really pretty too. I danced around the mirror for 10 minutes or so and then asked to put the other one back on. (Oh, she had to be glad to see me go!) As I walked out of the dressing room and caught myself in a mirror across the room. Oh man, it looked sooooo pretty! I may have started crying in the store. So here I am tearing up in the store with my mom, my brother and his girlfriend.
After that Monica asked me what was keeping me from ordering the dress today. Basically it comes down to this. I only plan on getting 1 wedding dress. I want to try on everything. Every style, every designer, everything.
I have 1 more store to hit up in Sioux Falls and then I will be out of places to go in the area. I want to be able to go in and try it on again if I want to, so I don’t want to find something in the cities or anywhere that is too far of a drive. I want to be able to go in and look at it when ever I want. However, this one, well it just might be the one.
I have been looking….and looking…..and looking. I have found some dresses that I like, but they are just ok. By far not the one I see myself getting married in.
At Ryan’s wedding few weeks ago we were hanging out at the dance. I looked at my mom and I told her that tomorrow would be the day. I had checked enough places and we were going to find my dress that Sunday.
The next morning, we showered up and headed to the French Door in Sioux Falls. Amy was coming with again, and I guess Luke had no better options and he showed up too. I grabbed a bunch in the style I have liked. Strapless with a wrap or gather around the waist. Some had a little beading, others had a lot with lace and whatever and I was trying them all on. I found one I liked. It has some beading, a wrapped waist, diamond white and a corset back. Yes…put this one on my list of likes. I also grabbed 1 that wasn’t really like anything I had tried before. It was fabric at the top with a little beading and then a different beaded design down to my waist. It wasn’t the right one for me. The beading stopped in a weird spot on my waist and I just didn’t like it.
The sales lady, Monica, pulled out another one that was similar. A little more deal, and more beads, but it again stopped in that weird spot. I said nah, and had her put it back on the rack. Amy, Luke’s girlfriend, was with us again and just didn’t like that I put that dress away. She grabbed it off the rack and said this one is really pretty; you just need to try it. Before I even had a chance to disagree she had it out of the bag and in my dressing room.
Oh man, I might owe her big time. Unfortunately this dress didn’t zip all the way up, but everything else about it was pretty much perfect. I really, really, really like this one. There is just enough beading, but not too much, and the train is absolutely beautiful. It is beaded all the way down the back and around. I just really liked this one. At one point I looked back at my brother and said “Hey, what do you think?” “That one is pretty nice,” he said, “I really like it.” Man if you can get approval from your brother that you look good, it must look good!
I wanted to try on the other one that I had liked. So, I put that one back on, had her tie me back in the first one. Oh, it was really pretty too. I danced around the mirror for 10 minutes or so and then asked to put the other one back on. (Oh, she had to be glad to see me go!) As I walked out of the dressing room and caught myself in a mirror across the room. Oh man, it looked sooooo pretty! I may have started crying in the store. So here I am tearing up in the store with my mom, my brother and his girlfriend.
After that Monica asked me what was keeping me from ordering the dress today. Basically it comes down to this. I only plan on getting 1 wedding dress. I want to try on everything. Every style, every designer, everything.
I have 1 more store to hit up in Sioux Falls and then I will be out of places to go in the area. I want to be able to go in and try it on again if I want to, so I don’t want to find something in the cities or anywhere that is too far of a drive. I want to be able to go in and look at it when ever I want. However, this one, well it just might be the one.
Wedding Weekends
Wow! I have been pretty rotten keeping you all updated on wedding planning. No updates in almost a month. I think that is a blogging no, no.
I guess there really isn’t anything too exciting to report. Between Randy traveling and other weddings to go to our weekends have stayed busy heading into fall. Usually fall means things start to slow down and for sure wedding season is over.
Not exactly on our calendar. 2 weeks ago we had a wedding for some friends down in Sioux Falls, Ryan & Ashley. Randy missed it, as he was in San Diego for work. Yeah, don’t feel too bad for him! For October it was a beautiful day. Their colors were brown and cream and it was very fitting with fall in the air. The reception and dance followed and I think the best part of the evening, was the food. Instead of regular meat and potatoes…it was a taco bar! I loved it, different, unique, and it was really good. Sorry folks, don’t expect anything too unique and exciting for our meal!!
The dance was a blast and with open bar and my brother, mom, another friend Jane, and I bartending, well people were getting more than they paid for! By the end of the night, no one really needed another drink, so anyone reading this…sorry to say, you pretty much just got pop! Ha Ha, jokes on you!
Last weekend, another wedding. Again in Sioux Falls, and again the same colors. The church they were married in was gorgeous. It is pretty new on the west side of Sioux Falls. A lot of the design reminded me of St. Thomas Moore. Looking around at everything, I think I have decided that when it comes to church decorations, less is more. I like the idea of letting people enjoy the beauty of the church. Chances are you won’t be there again, so why not enjoy your time during the wedding, watching the wedding, not checking out the decorations.
The reception and dance were at the all occasions event center in Tea. Hy-Vee got it right with this place. You write them 1 check and they pretty much do everything else. Cater, decorate, serve, tear down and clean up. The dance was fun, but seemed to fizzle out quickly and most of the guests were gone by 10 or 10:30. HEADS UP PEOPLE…I want a fun dance! I want everyone dancing and having fun. If you don’t dance, please stay and hang out. Have a drink, talk to my family, Randy’s family, friends, the wait staff, bartender, I don’t care, just PLEASE DON’T LEAVE EARLY!!! This was one of the main reasons we wanted to have the reception and dance at a hotel. People will have no excuse for leaving early to drive home. Get a hotel and stay the night!!
I guess there really isn’t anything too exciting to report. Between Randy traveling and other weddings to go to our weekends have stayed busy heading into fall. Usually fall means things start to slow down and for sure wedding season is over.
Not exactly on our calendar. 2 weeks ago we had a wedding for some friends down in Sioux Falls, Ryan & Ashley. Randy missed it, as he was in San Diego for work. Yeah, don’t feel too bad for him! For October it was a beautiful day. Their colors were brown and cream and it was very fitting with fall in the air. The reception and dance followed and I think the best part of the evening, was the food. Instead of regular meat and potatoes…it was a taco bar! I loved it, different, unique, and it was really good. Sorry folks, don’t expect anything too unique and exciting for our meal!!
The dance was a blast and with open bar and my brother, mom, another friend Jane, and I bartending, well people were getting more than they paid for! By the end of the night, no one really needed another drink, so anyone reading this…sorry to say, you pretty much just got pop! Ha Ha, jokes on you!
Last weekend, another wedding. Again in Sioux Falls, and again the same colors. The church they were married in was gorgeous. It is pretty new on the west side of Sioux Falls. A lot of the design reminded me of St. Thomas Moore. Looking around at everything, I think I have decided that when it comes to church decorations, less is more. I like the idea of letting people enjoy the beauty of the church. Chances are you won’t be there again, so why not enjoy your time during the wedding, watching the wedding, not checking out the decorations.
The reception and dance were at the all occasions event center in Tea. Hy-Vee got it right with this place. You write them 1 check and they pretty much do everything else. Cater, decorate, serve, tear down and clean up. The dance was fun, but seemed to fizzle out quickly and most of the guests were gone by 10 or 10:30. HEADS UP PEOPLE…I want a fun dance! I want everyone dancing and having fun. If you don’t dance, please stay and hang out. Have a drink, talk to my family, Randy’s family, friends, the wait staff, bartender, I don’t care, just PLEASE DON’T LEAVE EARLY!!! This was one of the main reasons we wanted to have the reception and dance at a hotel. People will have no excuse for leaving early to drive home. Get a hotel and stay the night!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
What should I be doing?
I feel like I should be doing a lot more when it comes to this whole planning thing. Dress, started looking, date – check, booked reception hall and church.
What else should I get started on? Invitations? Programs? Decorations? To me, all of this stuff comes later. But I feel like if I don't start working on this stuff it is going to creep up on me very quickly.
What else should I get started on? Invitations? Programs? Decorations? To me, all of this stuff comes later. But I feel like if I don't start working on this stuff it is going to creep up on me very quickly.
What do you think?
So Randy has a lot to say when it comes to the wedding. Not really, at one point, I think I heard alright, I bought you the ring, my job is done. Ok anyone that has ever met me understands that, well, I sort of like to be in control. Shocker, I know!
So a few weeks back I asked him what he thought for wedding colors. I believe it was, “Whatever, I don’t care.” I gave him my idea of red, black, and white. “No, I don’t like that.”
I have now decided that he may think he is off the hook and I should just do whatever I want, but I can just hear it as I start dragging stuff home. What is this for? I hate this color. Bla bla bla. So here is your warning Randy…this is our wedding. You asked, I said yes…watch out you don’t get a choice when it comes to helping me decide some of this stuff. :) Your soon to be stuck with me!!
So a few weeks back I asked him what he thought for wedding colors. I believe it was, “Whatever, I don’t care.” I gave him my idea of red, black, and white. “No, I don’t like that.”
I have now decided that he may think he is off the hook and I should just do whatever I want, but I can just hear it as I start dragging stuff home. What is this for? I hate this color. Bla bla bla. So here is your warning Randy…this is our wedding. You asked, I said yes…watch out you don’t get a choice when it comes to helping me decide some of this stuff. :) Your soon to be stuck with me!!
The Dress
Still no luck. Since my last post I have hit up 2 more dress shops in Sioux Falls. I am definitely not worried that I am going to run out of time. Looking at the calendar, I still have just over 11 months until the big day.
But nothing is just jumping out at me. Everything is just ok. Yep, that one is fine to. I keep going back to the same style which I think is good, but not getting that feeling that everyone says you have. I am more worried that I am not going to find anything in SF. I really don’t want to have to travel much over an hour to find a dress. Especially if I am not 100% sure about it. How many times do you want to take that trip to see it again?
I went with one of my bridesmaids and tried on probably 15 dresses at the interlude. All similar style and it was either too much beading, not enough beading, too much lace, or just ugly once it was off the rack. So I turn to Emily and ask, did you get that feeling? Did you know it was the one? “Yes,” she said “I did.”
Sunday mom, Amy (Luke’s gf), and I made our way to David’s bridal. I have heard from a ton of people that this is the place to go. That is where I got my dress, and my 19 friends found them there too. Me…HA not a chance. But, we had a great time. The nice thing about David’s is that they have 40 dresses in YOUR size. You don’t have to imagine how it is going to look on or when you can finally get it zipped. They ALL FIT! We tried everything. Strapless, halter, straps, the gigantic poufy Cinderella dresses. I was still able to eliminate a lot of the styles that I didn’t really like, but a lot of people say to have an open mind when you try them on. So I did and we tried them all!
One thing that I have learned from dress shopping is that I need to have a GREAT personal attendant. These dresses weight a ton, are super bulky, and somehow I have to get in one with my hair and makeup all done up and then keep it perfect while throwing 30 pound dress over my head. Now taking applications for a professional personal attendant!
But nothing is just jumping out at me. Everything is just ok. Yep, that one is fine to. I keep going back to the same style which I think is good, but not getting that feeling that everyone says you have. I am more worried that I am not going to find anything in SF. I really don’t want to have to travel much over an hour to find a dress. Especially if I am not 100% sure about it. How many times do you want to take that trip to see it again?
I went with one of my bridesmaids and tried on probably 15 dresses at the interlude. All similar style and it was either too much beading, not enough beading, too much lace, or just ugly once it was off the rack. So I turn to Emily and ask, did you get that feeling? Did you know it was the one? “Yes,” she said “I did.”
Sunday mom, Amy (Luke’s gf), and I made our way to David’s bridal. I have heard from a ton of people that this is the place to go. That is where I got my dress, and my 19 friends found them there too. Me…HA not a chance. But, we had a great time. The nice thing about David’s is that they have 40 dresses in YOUR size. You don’t have to imagine how it is going to look on or when you can finally get it zipped. They ALL FIT! We tried everything. Strapless, halter, straps, the gigantic poufy Cinderella dresses. I was still able to eliminate a lot of the styles that I didn’t really like, but a lot of people say to have an open mind when you try them on. So I did and we tried them all!
One thing that I have learned from dress shopping is that I need to have a GREAT personal attendant. These dresses weight a ton, are super bulky, and somehow I have to get in one with my hair and makeup all done up and then keep it perfect while throwing 30 pound dress over my head. Now taking applications for a professional personal attendant!
Photography Take 2
Last Tuesday night I met with another photographer. I will be honest, first thing that drew us in her direction, price.
We are running into the problem of photographers packages limited to hours of coverage. 4 or 6 are pretty popular and by having a 2:00 or 2:30 wedding, that doesn’t give us a whole lot of time for photos before the wedding and pictures after the wedding or having them at the reception for very long.
This lady I could book from whatever time we wanted her in the morning to whatever time we wanted her to leave from the dance. What’s the catch you ask? Why didn’t you book her? Great price, great coverage, what’s the deal?
She is VERY inexperienced. She has only done 4 weddings EVER. I thought about asking for references to talk to those people, but quickly found out that 2 were cousins, and one was a close family friend. Yeah, like they are going to say anything bad.
So, now I understand why I can afford her.
We are running into the problem of photographers packages limited to hours of coverage. 4 or 6 are pretty popular and by having a 2:00 or 2:30 wedding, that doesn’t give us a whole lot of time for photos before the wedding and pictures after the wedding or having them at the reception for very long.
This lady I could book from whatever time we wanted her in the morning to whatever time we wanted her to leave from the dance. What’s the catch you ask? Why didn’t you book her? Great price, great coverage, what’s the deal?
She is VERY inexperienced. She has only done 4 weddings EVER. I thought about asking for references to talk to those people, but quickly found out that 2 were cousins, and one was a close family friend. Yeah, like they are going to say anything bad.
So, now I understand why I can afford her.
I won!
So, remember when I told everyone that I registered and every website imaginable the day after we got engaged? One of the sites I registered on was gonnagetwed.com. The give away great stuff each month. Wedding dress, dream honeymoon, flower gift certificate etc.
So you can imagine my excitement when I received a call the other day about winning thru this website. I’m thinking yes a photographer, cash, what did I win?!?! Ready for it…a Mary Kay makeover. Yep seriously.
I tried to get out of it I really did. But when I told the lady I was busy during the week she said that she could check back with me on Monday to look at the following week. I felt if I didn’t just do this thing I would have a stalker for sure for the next few months.
So Wednesday is the big day. 7:00 – 8:30 I have 2 or 3 people coming over to be completely freaked out by a crazy energetic Mary Kay lady. I’m sure everyone is just as excited as I am.
So you can imagine my excitement when I received a call the other day about winning thru this website. I’m thinking yes a photographer, cash, what did I win?!?! Ready for it…a Mary Kay makeover. Yep seriously.
I tried to get out of it I really did. But when I told the lady I was busy during the week she said that she could check back with me on Monday to look at the following week. I felt if I didn’t just do this thing I would have a stalker for sure for the next few months.
So Wednesday is the big day. 7:00 – 8:30 I have 2 or 3 people coming over to be completely freaked out by a crazy energetic Mary Kay lady. I’m sure everyone is just as excited as I am.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
