My very first terrible vendor experience.

I had called a hotel about 2 months ago to set aside a block of rooms for people. I told them I would need 50-100. There are people coming in from out of town as well as people living in town who wanted to spend the night away from home.

They said "No problem!" Started giving me details. I hung up the phone feeling confident and completely at ease. Fast forward to today. Amy! Calls. She was unfortunately confused, she thought I was getting Married 10/19 not 9/19. Since it's back to school time they can only give me a block of 15 rooms.

...

33 is the low ball on rooms. That's doubling up on people who know each other and might stay together. That's expecting/hoping that some of the people will be staying at their parents houses.

So now I look for a new hotel and see if I can find one that'll give me ~50 rooms.

Keeping myself busy...

While I patiently wait for our Magnets to arrive I've been planning Registries. I will freely admit that this is the second most exciting part of the whole Wedding Planning process for me.

Some people think that Registries are the Devils work. I am here to tell you, no. They are not. The Registries are about your life together as Husband and Wife, and God willing: Parents.

It's about all of the little things that make your house into a home. And it's about the two of you. I will also freely admit that I put Wilton Cake Decorating Tools on there... as well as Cookie Sheets. Mostly because Baking is a big deal to me. And how am I to be expected to throw fabulous Cookie Exchanges if I don't have the proper tools and equipment?

I'm also trying to get the things that *I* want out of the way so that way Matt doesn't have to sit there and wait for me. But more importantly I'm hoping to take some of the tedium out of it so when we have to go 10 rounds over silverware- he'll have some stamina.

Picking paint for the house was terrible. I can only imagine what silverware will be like.

SO! What was your #1 must register for? What do you wish you'd Registered for?

Disappearing Vendors

I will not call Wedding Vendors Elves here. Generally, I don't like calling them Vendors. Because really, I want to pick people who care about what they are doing. Someone else called them Wedding Elves, and I liked it. Helpful creatures! What every girl needs... but moving on.

There are now TWO Brides in 5 months who I've seen have their Photographers run off after the Wedding. Leaving them with no pictures. This makes me more than a little nervous. The pictures may end up costing more than my Rings- and to have nothing to show for it? Well it terrifies me. I had wanted two photographers for the Wedding itself. Whether they be 2 from one studio or 2 independent. But that can also mean double the cost. And double the ditching.

I just want happy elves at my Wedding. Not greedy grumpy vendors. : (

Why are words so hard to find for a wordy wench?

I thought about giving y'all a sneak peek at the StD's, but I changed my mind. I need 7 more words and I cannot, for the life of me figure out what to put in there. I've been trying to add things so that you can make little statements or sayings. I think that most people will just enjoy the novelty of silly words. They may or may not try to make phrases out of them. And that's ok. I wanted these to get people's gear's churning and turning. I wanted them to let people start thinking- Pirate.

Hopefully I can wrap this up this weekend. Considering I've been banging my head on a desk for about a week now. I didn't want to start filling in the spaces until I knew that they could do what I wanted. So these may not reach people by Christmas.

Oh well! C'est la vie!

Funner Save the Dates!

So, I love me a Save the Date Magnet. Because not only does it serve as a reminder, but it serves a purpose too. Most people have room for one more magnet on their Fridge. Unless however you are my oldest sister. ; ) But I digress....

While I was getting my daily dose from Brooklyn Bride I fell in love, Love, LOVE with a readers STD. It's got a Magnet to serve as a reminder AND it's got Magnetic WORDS! a la Magnetic Poetry Pieces. And since I'm terribly wishy washy- I want those now. But I am now left staring at a template that I do NOT understand.

in the end they may end up costing a touch more than the plain cards. But that has more to do with image logistics [ie: if I send them a file they can't use because it's too small, the wrong DPI or the wrong format].

Hopefully I'll be able to figure this out so I get get one more thing off my list.

MARRIAGE LICENSE AND LAST NAME CHANGING JOYS!

I am over filled with joy! Although, my head is still pounding with a Migraine.

In any event!

I just found out that to change Matt's name we may not have to fill out all the paperwork again OR PAY THE $500!

Surname options

Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she wishes to be knows simply by using that name consistently and without intent to defraud. A person's last name (surname) does not automatically change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage must change his or her last name. The bride and groom need not take the same last name.

One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage license. The new name must consist of one of the following options:

* the surname of the other spouse;
* any former surname of either spouse;
* a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse;
* a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.

The use of this option will provide a record of your change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, is proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful. Whether you decide to use or not use this option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.

Source: http://www.tonawanda.ny.us/townclerk/htm/t_p_wed.htm

Oh man. This is awesome on so many levels. This means that we won't have to: go to court, pay a lawyer, change his name a head of time, pay $500, wait for a lapse in my health care!

Here's to hoping that this JOY gets the black rain cloud out of my head.

Toasts and Dancing

First and foremost, I love how much I'm thinking about things that no one will care about.

Now, I don't know how my Brother or his Sister feel about Public speaking; so that topic will be brought up over Thanksgiving or Christmas. But, if neither of them want to speak in front of 200ish people; many of whom they will not know... then what? Can we just for-go a toast all together? Do I ask our Fathers to say something? What if they don't want to speak in front of 200ish people?

I know that I have 10 months to figure this out. It's just something that wobbles around in my brain.

And I know that Matt and I will have our first dance. But I'm not so keen on the whole Bridal Party dance. Especially since there will only be 2 other people out there. I mean honestly, what's the point in that anyways? I'd rather just get on with the fun and ridiculousness of the party.

No.

Small and direct. I do not like no when it is leaving someone elses mouth and it is directed at ME.

Further more, when someone tells me that I can't have something in or at my Wedding, it just wakes up the devious little 7 year old.

And she will find a way >: }

Favors and Centerpieces

I found these adorable little boxes at the Oriental Trading Company. I just need to figure out what to put into them. The site says that they're 3in; so I'm assuming that that's the length, but I can't be sure for now. I'll probably end up ordering a set at some point soon just so I can play with them and see what all I can and cannot fit in there.



The more I think about it the more indecisive I get. While having pillar candles in glassware looks nice. I am a girl, and I do like flowers. Matt said pirates don't have flowers. I did politely remind him that this wench will have flowers, maybe not a plethor-a. But there will be some. And if I did decide to put flowers on the tables I wouldn't go hog wild with huge arrangements. I'd just want a few flowers in pretty little containers.

For a moment you have to imagine that the sea shells and things are gold coins. But this is what I'd been thinking of doing with red and black candles.



The style centerpiece we go with would change the way the table numbers are displayed slightly. But rest assured I've got it all covered ; ).

DIYBecks!

So, it would appear that my new BFF Becky is a Veteran DIY Invitationer. This is pleases me on so many levels. Where shall I begin? She's an Art Teacher. Who can totally draw me somethin' super sweet for the tops of the invites. She's been shopping for cardstock in grosses before. Spray Glue does not scare her. I could go on, but I'll spare you. Now on to what I came up with on my own.



I looked at different colors of card stock today with the middle Sisty-ugler. I managed to find a parchment looking one that I like. As well as a red. I also found many much pink things to thrust upon the eldest Sisty-ugler to help move her into the realm of a PINK Bridal Shower.

But for now, I am off to wrestle a Guest List, that has now gone over 200.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!

The Kids Favors came today! I love, love , LOVE them.

I got cute little crayon roll ups for the kids under 10. I have to find some Piratey coloring pages to go with them, but that won't be hard. I'm absolutely over the moon for them. I wanted something for the little ones so they could not only have something special, but I wanted them to have something to keep them amused during the reception in case they aren't dancers.

Oh my GOOSES

179.

That's the total number of Guests right now. Including Children. So it's probably closer to 170 Adults. Matt's Aunt sent me a list of names and addresses. But I don't know who on there has kids or how many they have.

I know that the list will get bigger before it gets any smaller. And I'm not terribly worried yet. Because no matter what we'll be charged for 150 Guests. So I'd prefer to make sure I have at least that many so I'm not buying dinner for imaginary people!

BUT! This also means that the Ceremony might be tricky. Anything over 75 Chairs I have to pay for. I've been debating what to do about that. I know people usually skip out on the Ceremony, which is fine, but our Reception is right after. So people could skip out on the boring part... but then they'll miss part of the Cocktail hour happenings.

Oh well, no sense in me worrying now about what everyone else is doing during my Reception then. : P

DIY Invitations?

So, God hates me. I can NOT find invitations I like. I am also amused that I'm this worried about something that will potentially end up in the garbage. I've found 2 that I like so far. I'm not nut-so in love with either though. I am however in love with the fact that they will let me put WHATEVER I want on them.

I'm in love with the prices of one- but not the other. $4.40 per invite seems like an awful lot.

I didn't want to make my own invitations. Mostly because we don't own a working printer! I didn't want to make them because that was just one more thing that could go wrong. I'm not worried too much about it because I know that I still have plenty of time to get this done.

I'm just annoyed that I'm this knit-picky.

So, Pictures.

Photos by Aaron Ingrao


He doesn't like his hair in most. I don't like my head positioning in others. Gee we make a great pair. : P

But these are my 2 favorites. They'd be used on our Save the Date Cards. Thoughts?

In other news, Aaron Ingrao is boss sauce.

In no particular order

Snow Patrol: Open Your Eyes.

Michael Buble: Save the Last Dance

Snow Patrol: Signal Fire

James Morrison: You Give Me Something

- - - -
Have you noticed a trend? Mind you, this is not how I have them ranked. This is just how I stuck 'em in there.

Well, in the process that is copying and pasting from YouTube I've taken 2 off the list. Granted- I love Feist and Frou Frou. So this list maybe revised to include them. It's just that some of their songs seem like they'd be uncomfortable to dance to. [read: icky tempo]

But who knows really.

Pictures in the Park

Tomorrow morning we're heading out to have some Pictures taken. There are probably less then 10 pictures of Matt and I together. Which isn't a lot when you think about how long we've been dating. And then take in to account that we've been living together for pretty much that entire time.

So here's to hoping that it's money well spent AND that we don't clash.

Trying to find nice clothes that were warm enough, but comfy enough proved to be a difficult task. Mostly because I wanted our outfits to look A-Ok paired together.

So we'll see how I did.

Our Song

So, Matt and I have only danced together once. Which means that in the next few months we're going to be taking Dance Classes. Not because we neeeeeed to learn to dance, but because I'd rather have it go smoothly. And this will give me something to look forward to during the weeks that get terribly busy.

And us being who we are, we don't have a song. I will attribute most of this to our vastly different music tastes. That being said, there are places that they overlap, but not many.

So this is where I am going to ask you, our devoted readers to chime in. I've been looking for a song for us to dance to. I've found oodles that I like. And as luck would have it- he hasn't objected to any of them yet. Although I think once he sees what a dance instructor might want us to DO to the music... his feelings might change!

So send me your suggestions. Whether you know us well or not, let me hear 'em!

If you don't want to sign up for a Blogger account or if you don't have a Google account you can always email them to me.

thegillian@gmail.com

Father in Law to the rescue!

He sent me an email today saying he found a Six Pence.

Oh, happy day!

Something borrowed? Something new?

This just hit me, so please excuse me while I get all sorts of overly emotional and bittersweet on you.

I have something old, which has blue flowers on it. So I can check old and blue off. I've found several six pence online, so if I can't find one locally I'll have that soon too. I know I have 10-11 months to find something borrowed. And I'm suuuuuuure that I'll get something new around then. But the borrowed bit makes me sad. For lots of reasons which we don't need to get into.

But how in the hell do I go about that?! I can't just ask every woman in my family for something. That'd just be weird.

"Hey, I'm getting Married. Gimme yer stuff. Thanks!"

Hmmm, maybe I can get me a little bit of Livernois.

See ya later George!

Yesterday I went and signed all of the contracts for the Reception and Ceremony, and made the rest of my deposits. It seems so strange to me to not have to go back there for another 9 months. Well only strange because I have so much done that I just want to get everything over there taken care of as well. I know that 2 months is more than enough time for them to order napkins and do whatever else they need to. I'm just ready and raring to go.

I'm trying to keep myself on track with other things that need to be done. So that way when I do go to see Kristen again I have everything done and the meeting can be as painless as possible! Not to mention I'll need the next 9 months to label everything.

I have to have a 2" label on everything that I'm leaving at the site. Decorations, favors, cake knives, place cards etc. I also have to give them an itemized list and count of everything I'm bringing in, along with any special instructions. Seems a bit silly to me, but I'd rather label it all and leave it so they can put the favors and cards out. God only knows that I don't want to spend 3-4 hours circling tables putting things on them.