Thursday, May 27, 2010

Squee! I have wedding invites, RSVP cards, and programs!!!

I love Vistaprint.com.  Huge fan of them; always have been, always will be.  It's crazy how much I bought from them for this wedding...


Engagement announcements x 70 = $43.97
Personalized envelopes x 70 = $24.73



Save the Date calendar magnets x 70 = $58.98
Personalized envelopes x 70 = $24.73


Invitations x 70 = $37.47
Plain envelopes = Free


RSVP cards x 70 = $37.72
Plain envelopes = Free


Museum ticket note cards x 70 = $31.99
Plain envelopes = Free



Address labels x 140 = Free


Wedding programs x 100 = $47.97


Guest Wishes cards x 100 = $24.99


Favors (pens) x 100 = $238.98


Wedding announcements x 50 = $34.22
Personalized envelopes x 50 = $19.73


Thank You cards x 50 = $19.99
Personalized envelopes x 50 = $19.73

Whew!  So...total spent on stationery?  $426.22, if my math is right.  Favors, $238.98, plus the $200.00 we donated to the American Cancer Society, for which they provide personalized scrolls we'll wrap around the pens.

Most people spend $500.00 on the invitations alone.  I think we did pretty well!  Oh and did I mention?  It all came out GORGEOUS.  So impressed with the quality, especially the linen finish I ordered on the invitations, RSVP cards, and programs.  So professional looking.  I must say, money well spent!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Yay, we have a contract for our wedding catering! Boo, the address is wrong and it's freaking EXPENSIVE!

So...kinda freaking out. The wedding catering contract states that the final guest count can't increase more than 20% or decrease more than 10% of the number of guests on the contract. I have no clue how many are coming!!! Simon hasn't seen his out of state relatives since he was a kid. They all might come. None may come. I only have one out of state relative confirmed. No clue how many more will make the trip. How the hell am I supposed to pick a number 5 months out??? Plus prices are going up in July so hafta figure this out NOW to lock in current prices. Argh!!! 

Okay.  Deep breath.  The price has already gone up by 25 freaking per cent.  We cannot wait past July for it to go up again.  I thought an hors d'oeurvre reception would be cheaper, and while it is cheaper than a sit-down dinner, the appetizers, desserts, and booze are up to over $90/person.  And we're stuck with this caterer because they come with the venue.  They're good, and we love them, but we're getting a little annoyed with the price increases.

Part of my solution was to set up a Facebook event for the wedding and invite any guests who will be getting wedding invites:

“I'm looking to get a preliminary count so we can sign our wedding catering contract. Sending this out to any invited guests who are also on Facebook just to get a general idea. This is NOT your official RSVP, so don't worry, and please send that back when you get it. Just let us know if you THINK you'll be able to attend, and how many people in your family are coming. Singles can bring guests, but we request no children younger than teenagers please. Thank you!!!”

So far I have a declining guest I thought might have been coming, so if everyone responds, I may be able to get a better idea.  None of Simon's family is on Facebook, so it won't be completely accurate.  In the meantime, Simon is going to call the caterer tomorrow and try to negotiate more wiggle room.  Normally we wouldn't be signing a catering contract till we had more definite numbers, but the caterer himself told us the prices are going up in July and we should finalize it now.  Well, if we're going to do it now, you can't expect us to know how many guests are coming!  I think he's more used to corporate events than weddings, so Simon's going to try and work this out.  We could have anywhere from 50 to 100 guests.  That range above, if we estimate 75, would mean we could only finalize from 68 to 90 guests.  Probably a good estimate, but we can't be sure.  I certainly don't want there to not be enough food.  Simon's more worried about paying for more food than there is people.

So before we sign anything, we're getting that worked out.  On a lighter note, here's the yummy final menu!

3:00 PM / SKYLINE SUITE / RECEPTION

Tray Passed Hors d'Oeuvres:
***3:00PM-4:00PM***
Lobster Spring Rolls with Five Spice Dipping Sauce
Traditional Pork and Green Onion Potstickers with Ponzu
Chicken Tandoori Cups with Raita
Parmesan Crisps with Mascarpone, Caramelized Pears and Tiny Arugula
Grilled Vegetable Pizza with Fresh Herbs

Accents:
Domestic and Imported Cheese with Grapes, Bread, Crostini and Crackers

Enhanced Reception Stations:
** ***4:00PM-6:00PM*** **
Antipasti Bar
** ***NO PINE NUTS*** **
Grilled Asparagus with Grilled Lemon and Olive Oil
Roasted Peppers with Olive Oil, Garlic and Fresh Basil
Chilled Pasta with Saffron, Tomatoes, Olives, and Oregano
Marinated Grilled Shrimp with Sweet and Spicy Mustard Dressing
Baby Greens with Shaved Manchego Cheese and Sherry Vinaigrette
Assorted Marinated Olives

Dessert Reception :
** ***6:00PM-7:00PM*** **
Signature Desserts:
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Wild Strawberries and Fresh Mint
Chocolate Truffle Cakes with Espresso Whipped Cream
Chocolate Creme Brulees
French Butter Apple Tarts
Assorted Cookie Lollipops

Beverages:
Dark Roasted Regular and Decaffeinated Coffee
Assorted Teas and Herbal Infusions
Cream, Sweeteners and Lemon Wedges

Beer and Wine & Soda Package:
** ***3:00PM-6:00PM*** **
Sycamore Lane Chardonnay, California
Sycamore Lane Merlot, California
Spasso Pinot Grigio, California
Bud Light, Amstel Light, Harpoon IPA, Sam Adams
Coke Diet Coke
Sprite Ginger Ale
Dasani S.Pellegrino
Orange and Cranberry Juice

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Squee! Wedding caterer emailed me full list of food options for our hors d'ouevre reception.

That's right, I'm finally doing food! I got the full list of options and Simon and I perused lists of yummy-sounding hors d'oeuvres all day. 

We get to choose 5 tray-passed appetizers (those circulate for an hour), a stationary accent, a table station (which is served for 2 hours), plus a one-hour dessert table. The tray-passed appetizers have options for seafood, meat, vegetable, and mini pizza.  

We figure one seafood, one veggie, two meat, and one pizza for the apps. We've tentatively decided on lobster spring rolls, Parmesan crisps with carmelized pears, Indian chicken, pork potstickers, and grilled vegetable pizzas. 

The stationary accent will most likely be an assortment of cheeses, grapes, breads, and crackers. The 2-hour station will be an antipasti bar. The desserts, other than the wedding cake, will include lemon tarts, chocolate cakes with espresso cream, apple turnovers, and cookie lollipops. Yum!

It also includes 3 hours of open bar with wine and beer only, plus soda, coffee, and tea. What do you think...something for every taste right? Somehow I think, even thought it's an hors d'oeuvre reception, no one will leave hungry!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Wedding Dress Dilemma

I'm ordering my wedding gown in just under 2 months. And I STILL can't decide!

Background: I've been to David's Bridal twice. I hate shopping in stores, I hate trying things on, and I hate the pressure of bridal salons. I don't want a cookie-cutter dress. I am done with stores. I WILL be buying my gown from one of the two below merchants, so don't try to talk me out of it. =)

It's down to two. I keep going back and forth. The second one is NOT going to look like the picture. Please read the whole description.

Dress #1:

www.lightinthebox.com/A-
line-Sweetheart-Chapel-Tra
in-Satin-Lace-Wedding-Dres
ses-for-Bride---Reception-
Dress--WGY0049-_p47930.html


Pros:
- I know exactly what this dress will look like from the picture. No changes will be made.
- It is $100 cheaper than my other choice.
- It can be made to my exact measurements.
- The lace used in this looks ethereal.
- It's got great reviews.
Cons:
- I've never purchased from this company before and don't know if I can trust them.
- I sort of want a corset back on my dress, but it's possible a seamstress could add that.
- It has a small train, which I'm not 100% sure if I want, but I do like the that it's traditional.

Dress #2:

www.lilywedding.com/inde
x.php?page=shop.product_de
tails&orderby=pshop_produc
t.product_name&flypage=sho
p.flypage&product_id=164&c
ategory_id=657078&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=0

CHANGES: I would be ordering this in white, with a corset back, with no sash, and neckline would be sweetheart.

Pros:
- I have purchased from this company before, and a friend bought her wedding dress from them. I know and trust them.
- I can have the dress designed exactly how I want, with any changes I want. Also made to my exact measurements.
- The lace design is very classic.
- It has no train, which is easier to walk in.

Cons:
- It's $100 more.
- I won't be able to see the finished product until I receive it.
- The reviews are mixed.

Now here's my dilemma. First of all, which one to get? But also, should I buy both to compare in person, and try to re-sell the one I don't want on eBay? I already own 2 wedding dresses I bought on eBay and changed my mind about. I have to re-sell those too. I could open my own gown shop at this point, lol.

There is obviously no returns, they are custom-made. But they are obviously not very pricey (both are made in China) and I could probably get $200 back for them on eBay. It's a risk, but not a huge one. I do feel frivolous potentially owning FOUR wedding gowns at some point.

So what do you all think? Which do you like better?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Check, check, and check. Just over 5 months till wedding. Things are moving along!

I was very productive at work on Monday.  Productive with wedding stuff, that is!  I finished designing my stationery on VistaPrint.com.  The Museum of Science requires us to get their approval on any documents being sent with their name on it, so I had to run them by the venue coordinator.  She said they were perfect, so I also ran the program by the wedding party to make sure all the names were spelled right.  Lucky I did, because I spelled my cousin’s new last name wrong (she’s officiating).  Oops!

Here’s what everything looks like:

Invitations (front and back):







RSVP cards (front and back):




Programs (front and back):






I have a final count of 57 invitations, so I’m ordering 70 invites and RSVPs to be safe, and 100 programs.  That will total about $130, including envelopes and address labels.  Amazing!  Just waiting to hear back from two people to confirm their names, and I’ll be ordering them.

I also emailed my ceremony to my cousin, along with a link to the Universal Life Church website where she can become ordained.  I need to double check that it’s legal in Massachusetts.  Anyone know?  I also researched MA marriage laws and found the waiting period for marriage licenses, how long they’re good for, and when you need a doctor’s exam.  I didn’t think they still required that, but we each need a doctor’s exam within 30 days…of the wedding itself or applying for the license, I forget.  It seems very complicated.

One of my bridesmaids is impressed with my organization.  I told her it was because I’ve been engaged for almost a year (May 7!) but then she reminded me she was engaged for three years before her wedding.  Well, I guess when I’m passionate about something, I’m organized about it!