*Shrugs*

You may have seen this image around... it is Cori from August and After wearing a beautiful red silk bolero from Mary and Angelika on Etsy.

After seeing images of her wedding and gorgeousness I immediately sought out her shrug and decided I would buy it in blue. I showed Devin and he didn't like. Humph. But, like everything else in our wedding, things have changed since the planning begun and now I am in love with the knit sweater shrug!

Below are just examples of what I have found while perusing Etsy:

I've already asked a co-worker/friend if she would knit me a sweet cap-sleeve shrug for my wedding day and after (and maybe before?)

Here are some of her creations:

Heidi - you need your own Etsy!

Flippin' Awesome

This is just a teaser:

Go see more of these photos on Green Wedding Shoes, so creative and fabulous - and a beautiful people alert for sure! I though the steampunk element was a bit understated, but in a good way.

I am overwhelmed with inspiration once again as the holidays are over and more new weddings are posted everyday. I like the creative "doing" aspect of planning our own wedding, but I feel like my hands are tied since I can't actually execute anything right now. Speaking of, when are we going shopping for linens and veil making items mom?

The things I still should be doing are making our itunes list for all the times the band won't be playing, and getting the guest list finalized, addresses compiled, making (or buying) wedding invitations, etc. etc. Those things just sound tedious. I hate tedious.

I'm hoping my shoes arrive today, I have this feeling, you know?

My first dress fitting is scheduled for March 13th!

The bridesmaid dresses are bought! Two ladies need to try their dresses on but my fingers are crossed that we're all happy. The breakdown: two gals in chocolate brown, two in gold/brown floral, our oldest daughter in chartreuse-y green, the two little girls in tan.

Next: Groomsman. This is pretty much figured out just needs aquiring.

********************************

January 27th we are celebrating our one-year anniversary with a night away at a cabin on Mt.Hood sans children.

We will ride the slopes that night, come back to a hot soak in these darling out-door soaking tubs on the cabin patio, then enjoy breakfast courtesy of the inn-keepers the next morning, enjoy some snowy walks and romantic cuddles and head back home! My manual camera's forwarding lever is broken and I really want to take "real" pictures of our getaway. I should probably take it in asap to get fixed!

Dreaming is Planning

I read this in my massage magazine...they were talking about your business plan, but I needed to read it because I go in waves of being completely obsessed with visioning our day followed by feelings of never wanting to look at another wedding photo set again! (This quickly turns back into the prior state-of-mind)

I know it will be over far too quickly, so dreaming and planning are like 85-95% of the fun of having a wedding!

What do I dream about? Oh.....where we will set up for the ceremony, whether we'll have chairs or bayles of hay or standing only, we are up top center, or if people will be circled around us (but then where does the wedding party stand?) whether the chairs will be plain ol' folding, or if we can spring for the NICE chairs to class things up a bit. Trust me, my back yard needs all the classing up it can get!

I wonder where the dance floor will be positioned and exactly how I can incorporate a fire-pit for an after party for lingering and out of town guests...after the kids are in bed we will join them while they wait out their buzz making smores and eating popcorn and red vines.

Should we have a tent? what would be under the tent? How do we have a family style reception dinner without an actual caterer. How badly I want to use real place settings but don't want to pay for them.

I could go on and on and on.....

We are officially a few days short of 6 months away! I read a great post on A Practical Wedding on how to have a lazy and cheap blog-worthy wedding. She had some great advice that I know will come in handy when I'm feeling completely overwhelmed and crying over something stupid.

key points were:

A great photographer will make your wedding look amazing
Marry someone you really love and want to be married too
Find a fabulous dress
Don't sweat the details or try to be super crafty especially if it isn't fun or isn't your thing

These are good. I still fret over not having a wedding planner and wonder if I should hire a day-of coordinator (how much are those?) Or if I have a friend/family member who not only can execute and maintain order, but also shares my vision for the day.

I know I will need to give over control on the actual day or I won't enjoy it.

***************************************

I had another bridal nightmare the other night. We were at our reception in a very dark/cementy/80's looking venue. My groom was not my groom (different skin/hair color, body, hair, age, everything - whoa) but the biggest problem was that none of his guests were at the wedding and all I could think was I was going to have to throw another wedding so that his friends could celebrate with us!

Geez, these stop don't they? Probably not.

Haiku

I recently spotted this lovely poetry form on a wedding blog featuring a sweet Portland couple.

The bride graciously emailed me the file that she and her husband created themselves! Thank you dearly Haylie, and picture props go to Rachel Thurston, based in Utah I believe. Who just posted some great pics of Portland from her trip up here.

So, family and friends, expect to see these forms on your table, and write me some damn good haiku!!

Decor Part 1

I recently started saving our tin cans and glass jars instead of recyling them. I have months to store up potential wedding decor, but it makes me feel like I'm being productive every day, and saving money on table decorations. I love the rustic simple feel of the every day brought to a new use:

I love the the table layout here, the centerpieces are clean, quaint and functional ~ a bottle of wine at each table? Yes, I am going to do that! What a great idea. I think I'll have two. The chairs are made of fabric-covered logs. Aren't they adorable? We will be renting chairs.

I love this photo of multicolored flowers (aren't some of those ranunculus? I love ranunculus!) in different glass vases on a small wooded desk. Inspiration.

My dear friend Emily has given me all her red-ribbon wrapped vases and red painted votives to use at our wedding as well. Thank you emily!

We will definitely not be at a loss for pretty things!

Cake Inspiration

I spied this cake in an issue of Portland Bride and Groom. Jocelyn from the Bakery Bar creates the cutest floral, lovebird and other unique cake designs.

I am lucky to have a baker as a best friend/bridesmaid and we've discussed doing a small 4 layer cake, alternating square and round, with a side (or two) of cupcakes! The cake will most likely be chocolate espresso stout and vanilla, with carrot cake cupcakes. Fillings, colors and design will be a last-minute detail as I change my mind constantly.

Cost of cake: ingredients, supplies, and kisses!

The Ceremony DURING the reception!?!

I just read a very intruiging idea: Have dinner first, then your ceremony.

This might actually work, especially at our place.

I'll ponder this awhile.....

Objections?

I love LOVE this!

This is so cute:



Depending on what style of dress I get, if this cute little shrug goes, I am getting it for sure. You can find it here made by local Portland designer Holly Stadler. Of course, all her stuff is sure to make a woman feel beautiful!