Wedding Crashing

I got so much done this weekend it's ridiculous. I'm not sure how I found time to do it all.

My MOH and I started Friday night with a trip to Dillard's to find the right Spanx to try on dresses with. I figured a simple pantyhose type body shaper would be perfect. Yeah, perfect until I looked at the price tag - $72! I'll have to save up for that purchase, so I'll stick with the corset bra for now. We also went by our new Ulta store and checked on professional makeup prices. They only charge $30 for a full makeover! Wow! I was so surprised. That will allow me to go ahead of time and let them do a trial run before the big day too.

Then Saturday, after my morning workout with the groom, we ran down to the dress shop where I tried on my first dresses so I could show my MOH the one that I particularly liked. I wish I could find a picture of it online, but I have failed so far. And of course, I never remember to take a picture of me in the thing when I have it on. Duh. After that, we crashed a wedding at the Blacksmith Shop that my planner had invited us to view. I was afraid I might be disappointed about not getting the space, but I wasn't - thank goodness. It was a lovely place, but it wasn't quite right for me. I viewed (and tasted) the handiwork of the cater, including some yummy pork loin. She also made the wedding cake, and it was just perfect too! I also took note of the awesome florist that was putting together huge, gorgeous centerpieces (Click to enlarge).

While we were there, she was busily hanging lit candles into the largest arrangements. She rents them (I know! Neat!), so that way you don't have all these flowers left over with nowhere to go.

After that, we stopped by a local boutique owned by a friend. Connected to the boutique is a little stationary shop that has some really great wedding invitation designs. The owner offered to help me get the catalog discounts on her stationary, so I will definitely try to take advantage of that. She also had some amazing wedding photography hanging on the walls and gave me the card to the photographer. I will be calling her, hopefully to meet very soon. Here's the photog's website: Jenny Evelyn

Then Sunday after church, I got together with my FMIL and one of my FSILs to go over (what I like to call) their "A-list" for the wedding invites. We managed to keep the numbers decently low so that we can add emergency invites later in the year if necessary or add a few people from the "B-list". Then I introduced my FSIL to my gym, and after a good hour workout, she liked it enough that she may be getting a membership and joining me in my weekly routine. There's nothing like having a workout buddy to keep you motivated!

So now I'm exhausted, and I don't want to think anymore about weddings ever again, but I'm going to truck on through and get these vendors nailed down before I rest for the holidays.
(Whew! Long post!!)

Ouch

I say "ouch" for two reasons:

(1) Because I am SO sore from the gym yesterday. I had forgotten to mention earlier that I signed up for a one year gym membership with a place nearby to get in shape for this whole wedding thing.

and
(2) Because my wallet is hurting! We went to view the library ballroom yesterday, and I LOVED it. But then we realized they have raised their prices for renting the space. *sigh* Oh well.

On the way back from that, mom and I stopped into a little bridal store that had a $99 sale sign in the window, and I tried on some of my first wedding dresses! It was strange because I didn't have any of those oh I'm gonna cry, I can't believe I'm trying on wedding dresses feelings that I think I expected to have, but mom and I did have a lot of fun (reminiscent of highschool proms), and I found a lot of dress styles that I DON'T like and a few that I really do. So it will be nice to already have that narrowed down for me. And I guess I could also be sore, because some of those dresses are SO HEAVY! I tried one on that was easily ten to fifteen pounds because of all the beading and a long train.

Of course yesterday's little excursion reminded me that I need to carry white or tan underthings and tall shoes in my car at all times. I had to borrow a corset bra from the store to try on yesterday. So this weekend, my mission is to find some Spanx to keep on hand, and I'll put my Stuart Weitzman's in the trunk as well.

This weekend my MOH and I are viewing a wedding that my prospective caterer is working. That way we can see her in action. Although if she's recommended by my planner, I'm sure she's great.

Reception Raucous

I have been trying so hard to find the perfect place for our wedding reception, but I've come up against a lot of roadblocks.

I originally had my list narrowed down to four places:

The Blacksmith Shop
The Library Ballroom
The Sidney Lanier Cottage
The Lee Alumni House

I had high hopes for the Alumni House, since both the groom and I were alums of the college we thought it would be an appropriate and commemorative setting. My planner nixed the Alumni House because apparently the school hasn't kept up the place very well in recent years, and she said she wouldn't recommend it to anyone until they make renovations. I trust my planner very much, so I take her advice very seriously. One down, three to go.

My planner set a date for me to come and view the Blacksmith Shop, but I went and checked it out online first. Then I noticed they have a calendar of events online, and I also noticed that our date was already booked for something else. There goes that idea. Only two left.

Well, I called the Sidney Lanier Cottage today and spoke to a very nice man about having the reception there. I told him how many people I expected, and he informed me that the number was right at capacity. Then he also informed me that dancing was not allowed... C'mon, really? I took down his name and number though, in case one of our moms would like to use it for a shower or rehearsal dinner.

Last stop, the Library Ballroom. I looked them up online - www.libraryballroom.com - and it's quite nice! It's been completely redone, and I think it would be a nice place to have the reception.

The groom and I go to get a view of it next week and schedule the date (which I checked online, it's still available). So hopefully, I will like it as much in person as I do in pictures.