Here's some random stuff I've collected so far....
My Michigan garters (Jim's favorite football team), which I ordered off of eBay the day after we got engaged. lol I'd seen them a couple of years ago and always thought if we get married that I would get them. They'll be my "something blue." Perfect.
I LOVE this honeymoon bag I got from Exclusively Weddings. I had a coupon PLUS it was on sale, and the personalization was free. This bag is HUGE! It has little pockets for bottles of water and a little pouch inside that is removable. Too cute!
I just got these luggage tags today! I ordered them off eBay...I think they cost me $2 or $3. Too cute!
Well...here's the cover of it anyway. I still need to find mini envelopes that won't cost an arm and a leg, and cut up some cardstock for the inserts. It will be like a well-wishes book but I'm going to affix the pink envelopes to black paper. I wonder what shade of pink I'll end up with this time?! haha
I knew I wanted a personalized jacket to wear on my wedding day while getting ready, but I wasn’t willing to spend a ton of money on one, and I didn’t want one that just says “Bride” on it…I would like to be able to wear it again after the wedding. I had found the perfect pink crystals at Michael’s and they were on sale, so I bought a bunch. I knew I didn’t want a long-sleeve jacket, since our wedding will be in late May, and knowing Nebraska..it could be 50 degrees, or 90 degrees, so I want to play it safe. I looked online for a cheap white hoodie. After an unsuccessful hunt, I scoured the mall. Again, unsuccessful. The only short-sleeve jacket I could find was at Younkers, and they wanted $60 for it! Ridiculous, right?! Later on, Jim and I ran to a different mall and he happened to see that same jacket. I shook my head and told him the price. He looked at it again and said, “No, it’s on sale.” WHAT?! He’s so awesome! It’s not a hoodie, but it is short-sleeve, comfortable, and not “cheap-looking”. I printed our names and the wedding date and then placed the paper over the back of the jacket. I didn’t want to ruin the jacket in case I messed up, so I used a pencil to poke tiny holes throughout the lettering. Once I took the paper back off, I had a general idea of where to place the crystals. I played with them until I liked the placement. I took pictures of it (I wasn’t home at the time) to see how many crystals I used with each letter/number and how they were placed, and then once I was home, I was able to replicate what I had done. I took an iron (I was not about to spend money on a tool that I would never use again) and placed it right on top of the crystals for about 10-20 seconds. Once they cooled, I did a quick iron-over again and let them cool. I made sure they were all on there really good and left it flat overnight. When I put it on the next day, one of the crystals came off, but I was able to iron it right back on, and I haven’t had any issues since. The picture where I am wearing it is missing one crystal in Jim’s name, but you get the idea. The other pictures show how it looks.
I actually bought these shoes months ago, but I haven't shown them off! I CANNOT wear heels...I actually have an extra bone in each foot (yes, I am an alien) and my feet can't take heels, OR FLIPFLOPS! I know wedges will be best for me, so I searched for dyeable (I plan on making them pink) wedges. Couldn't find any ANYWHERE! I'm a tough fit (I have a full size difference between feet), and I did not want to order online, but I found these on Colorriffics.com. I took a chance and ordered them. They came SO FAST and I tried them on. PERFECT fit! I wore them when I tried to dresses and my (worse) foot swelled up one time. I will probably need to get a cortisone injection before the wedding, but luckily for me, my podiatrist (an old family friend), will be there. I keep telling him to bring his little dr. bag with him! :)
So...those envelopes I was so thrilled about that I'd gotten such a good deal on...they're bright, bubble gum, NEON pink! Like electric, bar sign pink! It depends on the lighting, but next to everything, it's WAY different! Guess it's no longer magenta/fuscia and black....it will be all sorts of pinks and black. haha Oh well...can't beat the price!
So I FINALLY ordered my dress today! It's been a HUGE stressor...and it will be until it's paid off, but at least it's ordered! We were going to get it from a salon here in Omaha, but when I asked them about the deposit to order, they told me I had to pay half the tag price plus tax, plus $100, plus shipping. WHAT?! So I then asked about alterations. They said it would depend on how much they had to cut off and how we bustled it, and since I'm only 5'0 and the dress in the petite size is still way too big, they were guessing it would be quite a bit, but they couldn't even give me a ballpark figure. They just said it would depend on the situation at the time and which seamstress was going to be there. I asked if they would start alterations while we were making payments on the dress. Nope...has to be paid in full. Makes sense, but sucks for me! So we kept putting it off. A couple months later (which would have been last week), I get this e-mail from the first salon that we had visited (a very bad experience). They sent me a copy of this letter from all of these designers that have their gowns manufactured in China. Due to the labor issues over there, they said prices were going up 20-30% starting August 1st, and this included my designer. :( In a panic, I started researching and asking other brides and calling salons and asking around. Everyone said that it has happened before and it may happen again this year. Not willing to take the chance, I called a little salon in Fremont, which is a small town nearby. They said to order the dress, I just had to pay half the tag price. Tax is added later. They also do not charge me shipping. Interesting, right? So I asked about alterations. It is a flat fee of $139, no matter what. And they said I could have alterations started as long as I'm making payments. I just can't take the dress out of the salon until it is paid in full. (Well duh!) Happy as a clam, we made the drive to Fremont. I tried on the dress and was measured. I am SOOO glad I didn't end up buying a used one (it was often thought about)....I was guessing I was around a size 4. The smallest I had found was an 8...and we thought MMMAYYYBE we could tweak it and alter it just right. Uh yeah...I'm a size 2. haha Guess I'll leave the measuring to the professionals! So now we wait. It's going to be a LONG 4-5 months. *sigh*
P.S. I'm NOT showing my dress or announcing what it is...but I WILL say I'm a Maggie bride, all the way! LOVE LOVE LOVE her gowns!
I found hot pink/magenta A7 envelopes for my invitations on eBay! 200 of them for a grand total of $16.99! Can't beat that! I needed a smile today! :D It's my late little brother's birthday...been a crummy day. I think he helped me find these to brighten my day.
P.S. The font is in green in Chris's honor. :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cardboxes that I have been seeing other brides making, especially the ones that look like presents. What a neat idea! I was going to buy boxes that would tier perfectly, but then I thought…I like the idea of them looking like real presents stacked imperfectly, like our real gifts probably will be on the gift table. I already had the bottom two boxes (the bottom box was a snow boots box, and the middle one was a Victoria’s Secret gift box, and I bought the top one at Michael’s and used a coupon. I found the paper at Michael’s and used coupons (of course). Jim is EXCELLENT at wrapping (For birthdays and Christmas, I do the shopping, he does the wrapping J)…he is really good about not wasting any paper, so he wrapped them for me. We cut a hole in the top in front of the bow, and then just cut big open holes through the bottom of the top box, then the top and bottom of the middle, and lastly, the bottom box. We will have to break it open to get the cards out, which is fine with me since everyone recommends using a locking cardbox anyway. I tried to make a bow for the top but was unsuccessful. I found a huge bow and placed it on top. I used some extra sheer/pink wired ribbon and cut notches for the “ribbon” part of the “presents” and used double-sided tape to keep them under the bow. I was going to buy little wooden letters to spell “CARDS” and paint them, but in order to save a little money, I decided to use stencils and some extra black cardstock that we aren’t using and made “THANK YOU”. I used rubber cement and stuck it on the front so that guests will know they aren’t actual gifts and to place cards in it. All we have left to do is glue or tape them all together, but we kept them apart and placed them in garbage bags to keep dust off of them and are storing them up high where the kids and animals can’t get to them. I am going to try to place the gift table away from the doors. I’d rather be safe than sorry!
What a wonderful weekend! I showed Jim the Love Letter Wine Box idea I’d found online and he really liked the idea. I had done a ton of research, and the prices ranged anywhere from $90 to $400, so we decided to make one ourselves. While we were at Michael’s (probably one of Jim’s least favorite places to be), the boys decided to run next door to Lowe’s to look at wood to make the box while Alyssa and I walked around looking for paper. Next thing I know, the boys have their hands full of blocks of wood and tools. On our way home, we realized we needed his saw, which his ex still had. Once she found it, we walked to her house (we didn’t have access to a truck) and the boys and I carried it about a mile back to our house. Once we FINALLY made it home, Jim started sawing and then we sanded (my arms felt like noodles by this time). We did one coat of stain and here they are drying in our mud room (it stormed all night, so we had to bring them inside).
I am so lucky to have a fiance that is willing (and enjoys) helping me! I have been drooling over pocketfold invitations since my best friend got married years ago, but I knew I would never be able to afford them. Once I became engaged J, I had the same feelings and couldn’t get pocketfolds out of my head. I decided to try to make them on my own. Once I made a few on my own and my mom made some as well, I had an idea of what size I wanted. Then I began searching for a template or instructions. I followed one in particular that I thought I would like, but after making two of them, I decided they weren’t what I wanted. I had another template I liked but required a different size of paper, but I thought I would give it a shot. Jim made a couple of them while I was at work. J I was so shocked when I came home and actually saw the mock-up he made. I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much, I decided this was it! He made a couple of changes to it, so I guess it's his template! Jim has been scoring all of the paper for me, then I do the cutting (most of it) and the gluing. I bought 65lb black cardstock from Michael’s either on sale or with coupons whenever I was nearby. We will be making around 200, so I didn’t want to buy it all at once. We have our invitation and inserts made on the computer…we just need to find the perfect cardstock, which has been a huge headache thus far. We just printed these on plain white computer paper, and we were really low on ink, but just to get a general idea. :)
Again...these have been done for a while...but I am super late on the blog. :(
We will be inviting a lot of children, so I knew from the beginning that I wanted coloring books and crayons for the children at the reception to keep them (somewhat) entertained. I liked the idea of the books being personalized. I found a template online and used that as my base, then I just added a few pictures I found, added some puzzles/graphics/pictures of my own, printed everything but the cover on computer paper, and voila! I used 65lb white cardstock for the front and back covers to keep the computer paper from ripping. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do to bind the book together. I had seen some people use yarn, one bride hot glued every single page (oh my), and a few other ideas. I had some old yarn at home and tried it. Hated it! I was at Michael’s and saw a fuscia/pink colored narrow ribbon that I liked. I grabbed a couple and figured what the heck. I three-hole punched the pages and tied them together. LOVE IT! I did find that I had to make the knots somewhat loose, or the pages won’t turn well, and I’m afraid some kids will tear up their books. I’m sure that will happen anyway, but I’m a perfectionist. I will probably buy the small boxes of crayons in bulk and give one to each child. I don't think a children's table will work...most parents will probably want to be near their child....at least I would assume so. ?!
Jim was having his pinning/graduation ceremony on 2/21/10. Initially, he did not want to attend, but thanks to a classmate and Rachel, he decided to go last-minute. During the ceremony, Rachel and Jim's mom questioned why he was last and not in alphabetical order like the rest of his classmates, but they thought perhaps it was to ensure his mom would get to see him on stage, as she was not sure when she would be able to get there. As Jim went on stage, Rachel was busy snapping pictures. He came offstage and instead of walking to his seat, he came to her, as she was still taking pictures. Initially, she thought he was going to set his things down for her to hold, but then he got down on one knee. The room filled with everyone's gasps, and many were tearful. Once Jim asked Rachel if she was okay, and she started breathing again, she said Yes!
