Let Them Eat Cake

Yesterday I went to visit three bakeries local to my wedding site. They were all great. I went with my cousin, since I'm getting married at her house and she knows the area.

The first, R&D's, has been a family-owned business for decades. The guy we talked to was very nice, and I really liked how upfront he was. They are also a bakery, so we got some delicious pastries. The problem was it was 9 am, and we had whoppie pie for a taste of cake/frosting. WAY too much sugar. All the pictures of their cakes weren't very modern, though.

The second, TDB, was also great. The guy we talked to was in the middle of making a golfcart cake, and had some great pictures of interesting creations he had made. (He also made cookies for a holiday party the Jonas Brothers had one year, when they were in town or something... lol). We talked about all sorts of different things we could do, like have the top layer be cheesecake (RoyBoy doesn't like cake, the silly boy). Delivery is also included in the price, which is cool. They also do an interesting thing: Traditionally the happy couple freezes the top layer of the cake and eats it on their first anniversary. This doesn't really appeal me, to be honest. TDB offers a coupon that let's the couple come back on their anniversary for a small cake instead- nice and fresh.

The last place, WDF, was a recommendation from my Aunt and Uncle (who are hosting my wedding). WDF is very popular, and very good. We looked at a lot of pictures, and my cousin says that they have the most amazing frosting.

But, I can't have three bakers. So, we will go with TDB. (Now to just confirm with them!) haha

A little help?

I recently reached out to my community, asking for vases, decorations, and other goods for my wedding, since we are on such a tight budget. I got some great responses, mainly from women with vases to donate! One lady also gave me CD stickers, software, and sticker-attacher! Another girl I know also sent me a book, How to buy Everything for your Wedding on eBay... and Save a Fortune! by Dennis L. Price. Thus far it looks interesting! A woman I've known for a long time whom I will call the Basket Lady has also reached out to me, but I have yet to hear back from her. Hopefully she will email me back! (I think I will re-email her...)

I am very blessed to get so much help :)

In case anyone is reading this who has helped me, THANK YOU!

So Excited!!

I ordered my dress!!! I'm so excited. It somehow feels more official now, you know? AND it was only $249!! That's amazing, if I do say so myself. It will come in in November.

Yay :D

Say "cheese"

I have decided to book my friend, RK, and his assistant as my photographers. I am very excited. They are great photographers, they are very modern in their shooting style and are fun to work with, and I've actually taken pictures with them before. (Senior year at college I was almost Homecoming Queen, and they took some cute pictures of me to make a banner/ads for PR.)

So I am very excited to have them. The only downside is that they are where our college is, and I am... not. Two days away, actually, by car. SO I need to pay for them to come here. That's the only con, though, so there we go. If we are in the same area, then we can road trip together.

I'm excited. They are really great guys.

So, that's vendor number two!

Catering

I've booked my first vendor, how exciting! Well, practically. Once I mail them the deposit, it's official. Our caterer will be a deli called Colleen's, which is local to the wedding place. We are getting a ton of food, buffet style, for $9.75 a person. They don't do wedding cakes, but since I am bringing my own cake they will waive the cake cutting fee (they usually serve regular cake with the buffet and charge to cut it, but since they won't be bringing the cake, it is waived; a nice swap). So that's awesome. And they will provide simple Chinette plates, napkins, and silverware, so I don't have to worry about that. Yeah, these will be boring, so maybe I'll just spice it up with colorful napkins.

They don't do drinks, though. So I will have to provide those, and cups. But that's easy- lemonade, punch, water, etc. No prob, Bob. Noooo prob. Oh, and sparkling juices. No alcohol, so that is our substitute. (I love sparkling cider, though, so I'm good with this!)

Birthday Wishes!

The other week was my birthday. This past May I graduated from college. These two events mean that I am collecting giftcards/etc. in the gift-giving process, and I am hoarding them. Thus far, I have $100 to WalMart, $25 to Bed Bath and Beyond, $75 to Staples, $15 iTunes, $15 to Michaels, and $150 in Visa card moneys. Plus $50 cash for invitations, as well as a crazy-cool British card-making magazine, which is basically like scrap booking but in card form. These people make my Christmas cards look like... well, silly. But I like them anyways. So there.

Anyways, this is great. So much support, and so much I can easily use to buy things, without actually using my money or Dad's money! And that's nice. :)

Oh, the glories of the Internet

A while ago I became a member of www.TheKnot.com. It's a great wedding website, and it's free. They also have wedding websites that you can personalize, so I did! It felt necessary. It has all the information, and I will put the website somewhere on the things I send out. I'm wondering... the website has information about accommodations, directions, etc. Can I therefore leave these things out of the invitation? Traditionally, you send the invitation with a few accommodation recommendations, and then directions from the ceremony site to the reception site. Maybe I can save paper, and therefore money, by only sending the invites and RSVP cards. (That is, except to the older guests, who may or may not use the web.) Although there is a place online to RSVP, I want to go with the traditional option of including the RSVP card and envelope. Hopefully people will RSVP sooner that way.

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/StefGill&RoyFussell



EDIT: Mum and Dad say to include everything, and not to forgo printing something.

Down or Up?

I've been growing my hair out since eleventh grade, when I chopped it off for Locks of Love and rocked a cute pixie cut. I decided a while ago that I'd grow it out, and try not to get too many drastic cuts, until I got married and then cut it for Locks of Love again (at some point). The idea was that I want to have the option for an up- or down-do. I have decided to wear my hair half down. I have beautiful hair, not to toot my own horn or anything, but it's true. It should be down! And free! I want it half up because whenever I do wear my hair down, it's not very fancy. And it's my wedding! It should be different.

My vision: Hair half down. Curls looking great, and not frizzy (so I pretty much have to get it done; I'm not that good at making my hair look great on my own). The veil will be tucked in where ever the half-down part starts (or ends). And I want oxeye daisies (my favorites) in my hair as well.

Looking through Modern Bride magazine, I saw this do and really liked it. It's what I want, but also with some subtle braids. Hm.

Thirsty?

One way that we are saving a lot of money is by nixing the bar. You heard me right, no alcohol at the wedding. Why? Well for starters, it costs a lot of money.

You can either get a vendor and pay for the tab/up to a certain point, or have to pay the bartender and then extra if people don't buy like, $200 worth of drinks. Or you can buy a ton of alcohol and serve it yourselves/get someone to pour it for you.

You can also just do a champagne toast- and if you're going to do this, then you better get decent champagne, because what's the point of cheap champagne?

So reason one, it's expensive.

Reason two, our families aren't big drinkers. Some of the family (I could count them on my hands I bet) might have a glass of wine or a few beers with dinner. Not many college kids will be there, and they'd be the only ones actually drinking. (And then my parents would wonder about my habits ;])

Reason three, we are planning a daytime, outdoor wedding. People drink less in the day.

And the biggest reason of all: this is happening at a pastor's house. Even if I wanted alcohol, I'd get shot down pretty quickly.

So, no alcohol. It's not worth the expense, and I don't have the funds for it anyways! I will easily save $1,000. Sparkling cider/grape juice is friendly and fun, and will suit us fine. (Or people can bring flasks, which would be a riot.)