A little background first...
My mother and I do not have the greatest of relationships. Once upon a time we did, but as we both grew older, we grew apart. Once her kids were raised, she turned into a child herself and I don't/didn't agree with a lot of her decisions.
Now that I'm engaged, she has taken a lot of interest in us and is being very helpful. She wants to plan my bridal shower and everything.
Well, Friday night, she came to my house and handed me $100. I was very touched. She doesn't have a lot of money, like at all, and to her, that was a big expense. I cried and thanked her and told her I'd put the money towards my dress, which is on layaway.
The next morning, a call woke me up. It was my mom and she was beyond excited and said, "You're dress is paid for."
I sat up out of bed said, "Whaaa?"
"You're dress. It's paid for. All of it."
"What? How?" There was still $600 left to pay on the dress mind you.
"Your Step Dad and I won $4,000. We paid off your dress."
Yes, they went and played some slot machines. Which they rarely do. Like I said, they don't have much money. They were trying to kill some time before my Step Dad had to play softball, stopped in and won $4,000. Then they drove over to the dress shop and paid for my dress.
I couldn't stop crying.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Bargains
While browsing the bazillion things that you can buy for a wedding, I stumbled across customized labels for the invitations. I really liked them and thought they'd look a lot better than my handwriting or some generic printed labels.
They also have customized stamps, too, but that may be going a little overboard.
Anyways, I found a lot I liked and while they were not really expensive, I figured maybe I could save some money.
I liked the monograms ones the best, something like this...
So I started tinkering around with Microsoft Word and since I already have a large supply of blank labels, I came up with this...
And I can print as many as I want...for free. What do you think?
We also started looking around for invitations to get a general price range. We found 100 invitations with RSVP cards for about $90.00. That was the cheapest. Then I turned to my dear friend, Ebay.
We found 100 invitations, 100 RSVP cards, 100 labels, and 100 reception cards. For $75.00.
We went ahead and bought them. It was a steal. I'll let you know how they look when I get them!
They also have customized stamps, too, but that may be going a little overboard.
Anyways, I found a lot I liked and while they were not really expensive, I figured maybe I could save some money.
I liked the monograms ones the best, something like this...
 |
| No clue who those people are. Please don't stalk them. :) |
We also started looking around for invitations to get a general price range. We found 100 invitations with RSVP cards for about $90.00. That was the cheapest. Then I turned to my dear friend, Ebay.
We found 100 invitations, 100 RSVP cards, 100 labels, and 100 reception cards. For $75.00.
We went ahead and bought them. It was a steal. I'll let you know how they look when I get them!
Monday, June 6, 2011
What a weekend!
Friday
- Had all the bridesmaids over
- Ate too much pizza
- Had margaritas that were way too strong
- Picked out shoes and jewelry for the girls
- Decided on which bridesmaids dresses we like
- Tried to work with everyone's schedule to go shopping
- Still working on that
- Told my little sister that I wanted her to be my maid of honor
- Woke up way too early
- Met up with my mom, Fiance's mom, BFF and little sis.
- Went dress shopping!
- Tried on 15 dresses and became discouraged
- Not because I didn't like them
- I liked them all
- Was ready to give up
- Store owner came over and told me to try on one more before I left
- Tried on the dress she picked out
- It was THE dress
- I cried
- Fought with the consultant because she made me take it off
- Made up with the consultant when she told me that since that dress fit me perfectly, I could buy the sample dress at get a discount
- Put a down payment on the dress
- Happy Danced
- Invited Fiance's Mom up for dinner
- Went to meet with a hair stylist that is going to do our hair and makeup for an awesome price
- Went home and took a nap
- Woke up and waited for Fiance and his mom
- Ate dinner
- Drove the 2 miles to the Waterfall Inn to show off our venue
- Everyone loved it!
- Woke up to Fiance making strawberry and whipped cream pancakes
- Met Dad at venue
- Signed contract
- Watched Dad write out a deposit check
- Did another Happy Dance
- Made it official that we will marry on May 12, 2012.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Slightly more relaxed
I know I keep saying how stressful wedding planning is, but apparently, I'm a pretty kick ass wedding planner. Everyone keeps telling me that I could have my wedding this fall with how fast I've done everything.
Yay me.
Still, we will wait until Spring.
I have decided on the Waterfall Inn. As soon as I read your comments and especially Skippy Mom's comment about us getting engaged at a waterfall, so we should get married at one, too, my mind was made up. And seriously, that connection NEVER dawned on me. I'm an idiot sometimes.
So for some exciting news. My first dress appointment is this Saturday at 10:00!! And then I meet with a NEW salon who will do our hair on the day of the wedding for only $20 more dollars than the other place. And last night, I met with a DJ who just moved here from Kentucky and is trying to start a new client list and since I'm her first client in WV, she is only charging me $300 as opposed to the normal $650 rate that every DJ around here likes to charge.
But, you know me, always the skeptical. I got references from her and I get to see her in action this Saturday night. If we like her, we're signing the contract.
Oh and remember the photos I showed you on Jumble Mash? Yeah, well the guy that took them and was supposed to give me 120 photos of us, up and moved to freakin' New York. I have no idea when we will get those photos...if ever. But that does give us excuse to have another engagement shoot.
Look at me looking on the bright side.
I can say that I am much much happier now that we decided on the Waterfall Inn. I am positive about the decision and I absolutely love the place. I can't wait until you guys can see some pictures!
Yay me.
Still, we will wait until Spring.
I have decided on the Waterfall Inn. As soon as I read your comments and especially Skippy Mom's comment about us getting engaged at a waterfall, so we should get married at one, too, my mind was made up. And seriously, that connection NEVER dawned on me. I'm an idiot sometimes.
So for some exciting news. My first dress appointment is this Saturday at 10:00!! And then I meet with a NEW salon who will do our hair on the day of the wedding for only $20 more dollars than the other place. And last night, I met with a DJ who just moved here from Kentucky and is trying to start a new client list and since I'm her first client in WV, she is only charging me $300 as opposed to the normal $650 rate that every DJ around here likes to charge.
But, you know me, always the skeptical. I got references from her and I get to see her in action this Saturday night. If we like her, we're signing the contract.
Oh and remember the photos I showed you on Jumble Mash? Yeah, well the guy that took them and was supposed to give me 120 photos of us, up and moved to freakin' New York. I have no idea when we will get those photos...if ever. But that does give us excuse to have another engagement shoot.
Look at me looking on the bright side.
I can say that I am much much happier now that we decided on the Waterfall Inn. I am positive about the decision and I absolutely love the place. I can't wait until you guys can see some pictures!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I'll be gray by next spring.
Wedding planning is turning out to be more stress than I imagined. And I even imagined a lot of stress. I feel very conflicted right now.
Currently we are under TWO pending contracts. One is for the venue I showed you and on April 28, 2012. The other is for May 12, 2012 at a different, outside venue. The first venue is in budget, but I was not in love with it. After seeing the place and meeting the staff, it just wasn't for me. Yes, its beautiful. But its not me. It's not us.
So, we went to another place called the Waterfall Inn. The ceremony would take place outside on a big deck next to...you guessed it...a waterfall. It's truly beautiful and on a private estate. The reception will take place in their Grand Room with decorations and flowers INCLUDED. We'll have the venue for the entire weekend, so rehearsal will go on the night before. And the owner? She doubles as a wedding coordinator. I will have someone with me every step of the way making decisions and telling people where to stand, what to do, etc. She also hires a wait staff along with caterers. All for only $90.00 more than the first venue.
You may be thinking, well it doesn't seem like there is much of a choice, because that's what Fiance thinks too, BUT if we change the venue and the date, we lose the DJ and the people that were going to come and do our hair and makeup.
Can they be replaced? Hopefully. But we had researched and found excellent prices and people for the jobs.
And one more teeny tiny detail. I never ever wanted to have an outdoor wedding. Too much can go wrong. Too much can happen.
So, now I'm trying to talk Fiance into eloping. Or just forgoing the reception all together. He thinks I'm nuts right now, but he isn't the one planning a wedding. He just says, "I wanna be there for the cake tasting." Ah, gotta love him.
Honestly though, is the reception worth it? That's a lot of money that I can put toward a down payment on a house. Everyone says I'll regret it if I don't do the ceremony and the reception. What's your experience?
Currently we are under TWO pending contracts. One is for the venue I showed you and on April 28, 2012. The other is for May 12, 2012 at a different, outside venue. The first venue is in budget, but I was not in love with it. After seeing the place and meeting the staff, it just wasn't for me. Yes, its beautiful. But its not me. It's not us.
So, we went to another place called the Waterfall Inn. The ceremony would take place outside on a big deck next to...you guessed it...a waterfall. It's truly beautiful and on a private estate. The reception will take place in their Grand Room with decorations and flowers INCLUDED. We'll have the venue for the entire weekend, so rehearsal will go on the night before. And the owner? She doubles as a wedding coordinator. I will have someone with me every step of the way making decisions and telling people where to stand, what to do, etc. She also hires a wait staff along with caterers. All for only $90.00 more than the first venue.
You may be thinking, well it doesn't seem like there is much of a choice, because that's what Fiance thinks too, BUT if we change the venue and the date, we lose the DJ and the people that were going to come and do our hair and makeup.
Can they be replaced? Hopefully. But we had researched and found excellent prices and people for the jobs.
And one more teeny tiny detail. I never ever wanted to have an outdoor wedding. Too much can go wrong. Too much can happen.
So, now I'm trying to talk Fiance into eloping. Or just forgoing the reception all together. He thinks I'm nuts right now, but he isn't the one planning a wedding. He just says, "I wanna be there for the cake tasting." Ah, gotta love him.
Honestly though, is the reception worth it? That's a lot of money that I can put toward a down payment on a house. Everyone says I'll regret it if I don't do the ceremony and the reception. What's your experience?
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