Muses @ Tigerlilly: Wedding Planning

Wedding Shower

2009-05-11T13:22:00.002-04:00

So my mom and my aunt threw me a wedding shower last weekend and it was great! I went to Southern California to visit my family for a week and we just had a blast. It was also a great opportunity to try another shot at making my wedding cake. I made two tiers which I stacked on two different sized vases and decorated with fake flowers from the Dollar Store. I will have to post pictures of the cake as soon as someone who took pictures sends them to me. The outside of the cake got a little overcooked because I was using 3" deep pans so I have try and remedy this, but overall it was very successful. I had no idea that I would be getting gifts at the shower either. We had great food and got to catch up with some old friends that I haven't seen in a very long time.

The best part is that my friends will still be throwing me another shower up here at home.

Bachelorette Shirts

2009-04-22T21:16:00.001-04:00

I found a great website, www.customink.com, that does awesome bachelorette t-shirts. Their minimum for group discounts is only 6 and they have some really cool designs. Check them out.

Picking Your Wedding Party

2009-04-19T00:12:00.003-04:00

After my fiance proposed, I instantly called some of my best friends and asked them to be my bridesmaids. Although this worked out for me, I have heard/witnessed horror stories about bridesmaids. Personally I think anyone who gets engaged should probably plan out your wedding party before you ask, because you can't take it back. You have to prioritize your relationships verse your needs and wants. Personally my fiance and I wanted to have a smaller wedding party, 4 groomsmen, 4 bridesmaid, 1 junior best man, 2 ushers and a ring bearer. We had been in a wedding where the wedding party was somewhere around 20 or more and it was just to chaotic. Not to mention the cost. You really have to think that for every person you have to purchase a bouquet or boutonniere and then also buy gifts for all of the attendants. This really starts to add up when you have a large wedding party. Also you have to choose people that are there to support you. They should be the people that are closest to you and if anything goes wrong they will be the ones that calm the
situation and not cause more drama. I chose my sister to be my maid of honor. For my bridesmaids I chose my best friend that I grew up with, my college roommate and my soon to be sister in law. Now that I look back at my bridesmaids they all represent different aspects of my life and they are all friends that will truly enjoy this special moment with me and my fiance. (The top picture is my best friend I grew up with and the bottom picture is my fiance and I with my future sister in law and her husband at there wedding)

Bachelorette Party!

2009-04-18T23:22:00.003-04:00

Ok so the plan is...

Vegas at the Mandalay Bay for three nights. One day of cabanas on lazy river. They give you a $100 credit towards cabanas for each room you rent. A stipper 101 class for all the girls. Very embarassing, but should be a great time. I found $10 off the normal price at viator.com as well as $9.99 vouchers for VIP club entry to all the best clubs. I know it sounds to good to be true doesn't?! So now we just need to decide which clubs to go to and where to eat. We also would like to rent a 15 passenger van to travel in instead of having two or three drivers. Anyone have any recommendations?

Long Time, no blog...

2009-04-18T20:21:00.002-04:00

Wow! Sorry it's been so long. Life has been a little crazy! Last time I posted my fiance had been in the emergency room sick. Well, the next morning he had to be admitted to the hospital for a couple of weeks! Now, he is all healed up and doing much better! Needless to say all the wedding plans were pushed to the side for a short while. Now, were back in the game and counting down the next couple of months. Were in the last stretch and the planning has kicked into overtime. I look forward to getting back to sharing the details of the planning and all of our wonderful ideas.

Wedding Shower

2009-04-18T02:41:00.002-04:00

My mom and my aunt are throwing me a wedding shower when I go home to visit in a few weeks. She's getting together a lot of my old high school friends that I haven't seen in forever so I am really excited about. Neither her or I want to play the typical shower games (toilet paper wedding dress...), but we do want to play games. So we are going to play Wii games like Rock Band and Mario and Sonic go to the Olympics. Now I know this sounds kind of ridiculous, but these games are a blast. Get a group together and you will be playing all night without even realizing where the time went. If you have a Wii, you should get these games. If you don't, you should buy one. Enjoy

Who makes this dress?

2009-04-05T01:27:00.003-04:00

I really need to find out who makes this dress. I am absolutely in love with it. If anyone has seen this, please let me know. Thnak you.

My Dress is In

2009-04-02T00:23:00.002-04:00

I got to pick up my dress on Sunday and I am so excited. It just makes all of this so much more real. Now I stare it in the face (or the bag I should say) every night before I go to bed. I really don't have anywhere to put it so my fiance put a nail in the wall and it is hanging on that for now. We are moving to a bigger place in less than a month where my dress will have its own closet.

I have to say I was a little scared when I first picked up the dress. I opened the bag and felt like it wasn't as beautiful as I remembered. That was until I put it on again. The beauty all came back then and it reminded me that I didn't really care for the dress on a hanger the first time I saw it too.

I am definitly going to need alterations. I am already down one size from when I first bought the dress two months ago. Some people thought I would be really upset that my dress didn't fit anymore, but I was ecstatic. I can always have it altered, but the fact that I'm finally getting back in shape is priceless to me.

Oh What Fun...

2009-03-28T21:35:00.002-04:00

Wedding Planning is. I'm actually serious. I am having a really great time planning this wedding. I want to remind all you brides out there that are stressing out and on the verge to just relax and enjoy this amazing experience. For most of you it will only happen once. Remember you are the bride so whatever you say goes. It only matters that you and your fiance are happy. Don't forget to spend time together without talking about wedding stuff because your will still have a life after the wedding. Smile!

Wedding Planning Rant

2009-03-27T12:07:00.004-04:00

I was going to write something helpful and informative, but today I feel more like a rant. My wedding is a year away, which granted that is a long time to plan a wedding. But I am sick of vendors looking at me like oh you have forever to hammer out details when I contact them. They think just because I have awhile before my date they can take their sweet time getting back to me and setting things up. I'm purposely trying to get things done super early because I don't want to have to try to get things done around the holidays or at the last moment in 2010. I tend to procrastsinate so if I don't do it now I will be scrambling later. I feel vendors are being patronizing and I'm sick of it. I don't care if my wedding was 2 years away if I want to find out stuff now and book things far in advance so freaking what?! And another thing if I have to ever deal with another caterer anytime in the next 20 years it will be too soon. I've discovered that caterers are worse than "artisits." They are moody, persnickety, unresponsive unless you effuse the email with praise, and think way too much of themselves and their craft. OK I'm done. I just needed to vent. Other than vendors wedding planning is a blast!

Hairstyles

2009-03-26T23:50:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share with you the different hairstyles that I am contemplating for the wedding. I have been going back and forth on whether to wear my hair in a beautiful updo or down and flowy. I would love the updo, but I also love the natural look of having my hair down. We are having an outdoor lake wedding so this would definitly fit.

The updo cannot be a tight bun on the back of my head. It has to be big and show off my hair with a few loose curls draping my face. Similar to some of the looks above. My fiance also really wants me to have a flower in my hair somewhere so I have to fit this in as well. And then there is deciding how to wear the veil. So many choices...

Beautiful Earrings

2009-03-26T23:37:00.003-04:00

I just completely fell in love with Tigerlilly's Clementine earrings. They will go perfectly with my dress and are exactly what I have been looking for. Now I just have to choose the hairstyle that will really show these beauties off.

Gift Registry Part II

2009-03-25T13:49:00.003-04:00

My second out of the box gift registry idea is to do the honeymoon gift registry that is becoming very popular. I decided to go with the site TheHoneymoon.com. It is very user friendly and gives the user some great tips to help the registry be as successful as possible. You can also view other current registries to get ideas.

The one thing that they don't tell you about up front is that there is a service charge that your guests will pay. At first this is kinda of a shocker, but then you realize that your guests will not be paying for sales tax or shipping. I researched a couple of other sites and they all seem to charge something. Some of them charge you and not the guest so be careful which site you go with.

TheHoneymoon.com makes it very easy on your guests to find your registry. All they need to do is go to the home page and enter one of your last names. If you put a picture of the two of you, then it makes it even easier for you guests to find you. Then all you need to do is pick the gifts that you want your guests to buy for you.

Since we are going to an all inclusive resort, I just split up the different activities and dinning that we plan on doing and put price tags on them. For example, lobster dinner - $200 or breakfast in bed - $40. You can look at our site below if you would like more ideas.

https://www.thehoneymoon.com/couples/49819/registries/35727/guest_view

Gift Registry

2009-03-23T23:29:00.002-04:00

So I started making our gift registry today. Well, I guess I should say that WE started. I have debated about whether to do one at all or not. We really would like the bulk of our guests to contribute towards our gift registry honeymoon. However, my soon to be mother in law is worried that some guests will want to buy actual guests which I guess is a reasonable request. And since my mom just set the date for my wedding shower, I figured that we might as well get something going.

My problem has been that we really don't need many home/kitchen items. We've been living together for over three years and are midway through remodling our condo. So I thought why not get some things that we really want, not what we need. We absolutely love the store Cabela's so we thought...why not. They don't technically have a wedding registry, but they do have a wish list that your guests can enter you name and see what you want. The wish list even shows which items have already been bought.

We added camping pads, a tent, camp cookware, and camping dishes to our great new registry. We're still going to keep the number of items to a minimal. But now at least we will get some fun presents to open when the time comes.

Bridesmaid Gifts

2009-03-21T23:39:00.002-04:00

I get constant emails about specials and deals on bridesmaid gifts, but I don't like any of the gifts they sell. I want something at least semi personal.

Then, my soon to be mother in law told me about a pine cone necklace that she has. It's a real pinecone (a very small one) that was dipped in stearling silver and put on a chain.

I loved the idea (my wedding is somewhat pinecone themed) and have been searching for the necklaces ever since. Well I finally found one on EBAY of all places. Now I just have to find five more of them or think of another gift. Any ideas?

Invitations

2009-03-20T14:06:00.003-04:00

So other than wedding dresses the thing I'm most obessessed about is invitations. Last night the FI and I went to the Paper Source for their Wedding Suite event. Total fun and very helpful. We got a ton of ideas of what to do to personalize and jazz up our invites. Who knew that embossing meant so many things! And you haven't lived until you've used a heat embosser. The FI fell in love with the sticker maker. In the end it will end up costing more to DIY instead of just ordering it, but we think it will be fun. We're going to practice our ideas and techniques on the STDs (which I'm still opposed to sending out). We can't wait to start embossing! Paper Source is not doing another wedding suite anytime soon but they are doing a class dedicated just to invites in early April.

DJ

2009-03-18T13:17:00.003-04:00

So I was just about to book our DJ when I thought, why not ask for a little advice first. I think we are going to go with the husband and wife run company Saxman Entertainment in California. I haven't met Ken in person, but have talked to him over the phone. I get a really good and experienced feeling from him. And the part we like the best...he also plays the Sax. One of my bridesmaids thinks its a little cheesy-"Does that mean he will play Kenny G?"- But we think it will be a great little addition to the reception. He will only play the Sax when the moment calls for it.

As for the music itselft. Basically he will play whatever we want him to and he will spend time with us leading up to the wedding planning out the playlist and vibe we want for our reception. His cost includes travel time, set up, and tear down...$995. How does this all sound? Good to me, what do you think?

Happy St. Patricks Day

2009-03-17T20:14:00.002-04:00

In light of this festive holiday, I'm making a green dinner for a group of our friends tonight. The menu consists of spinach and parsley pesto shrimp, green (from food coloring) shrimp scampi, green mashed potatos, and green buttered garlic bread.

Someone else is in charge of bringing the delicious green colored drink which I am sure will be delicious. This reminded me of the signature wedding drink in the wedding accent colors and got me thinking about the food. Now I know my green feast is a little much for a wedding, but something similar would be very intriguing. For example, you could serve salmon, orange and berry fruit salad, sweet potatos, pumpkin and squash soup, and a carrot based salad for an orange themed outdoor wedding.

Personalized Wedding Stationary

2009-03-16T20:22:00.002-04:00

Queens:

When it comes to my wedding, I want everything to be personalized and unique to me. No cookie cutter wedding for me!

So I'm searching online and I found something else very cool and different.

It's personalized stationary from http://www.poseprints.com/builder.asp

Create wedding invites, shower invites, thank you cards, engagement cards, graduation announcements, buns in the oven and more. The greatest thing is there is a great tool you can use to create an image which reflects you. This site is very multicultural and easy to use.

I hope it helps others in there search for nifty items.

Respectfully,
The Future Lady Dreher

Bouquets

2009-03-16T14:31:00.002-04:00

I have been trying to decide what I want for my bridal bouquet. Calla Lillies have been my top choice from the beginning. I know they are probably the most expensive choice, but I am figuring that I will not use very many and this will even out the price.

I really love the gold and mango calla lillies above and actually think they would go great with my bridesmaid dresses. I would like this bouquest, but about half the size and wrapped in the dress material. I think the bridesmaids bouquet will have three of these calla lillies with either some white calla lillies or babies breath and then wrapped in an ivory fabric (the color of my dress). What do you ladies think?

Flaxseed Crusted Salmon

2009-03-16T00:38:00.002-04:00

This is a great recipe that still gives you the nice crunch of a breaded fish without the cards.

Mix 3 TBS. of ground flaxseeds (I recommend the golden ones for the color) with a liberal amount of salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, dried basil or other herbs. You can season the flaxseeds with whatever you want depending on your tastes. Add two TBS. olive oil to to a low - medium warm skillet (one with a lid is best). Moisten 2 salmon filets and press flaxseed mixture on to each side. Gently lay salmon filets in the skillet. Place lid on skillet and cook about 15 minutes a side depending on how you prefer your salmon cooked.

I usually make a topping consisting of plain non-fat yogurt, dill, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Have a side of quinoa and spinach salad and you have yourself one healthy meal. Enjoy!

Being Flexible with Planning

2009-03-15T20:39:00.003-04:00

Well today I had to remember that things don't always go the way you plan. My original plan today was to get all of my wedding invitations together, put address labels and stamps on them so I can mail them out tomorrow. Instead I spent the whole day at the emergency room with my fiance. He injured his elbow and now has celilitus (an infection). We literally sat there for hours. Finally we got home and I realized they gave us the wrong medication, so then I had to go back...... So, many, many hours later and now I am monitoring my fiance and trying to take care of him (he's very stubborn). Now it's late and I'm to exhausted to do invitations. What I learned from today....Be flexible with planning. Sometimes things are out of our control and you just have to go with the flow. This is something I am constantly trying to remind myself. I just want to enjoy the planning and not look back and remember it as stressful.

Wedding Shoes On A Budget

2009-03-14T22:41:00.003-04:00

Queens:

For wedding shoes on a budget, visit cutesygirl.com. Amazing shoes like the one above start as low as $29.99. Sign up for the mailing list for the latest on free shipping, sales and more. I read about this deal via an Essence.com article, entitled "I Designed My Dream Wedding on a Dime!"

Putting It All Together

2009-03-14T21:54:00.003-04:00

Queens,

There is nothing like planning a wedding, a huge grand event. You have all the components together--the theme, the colors, the dress, the bridal attire, BUT they are all in your head.

A great way to share your vision with others that matter and care is to create a digital and hardcopy montage of your ideal wedding.

Make it a scrapbook day. Pick up a handy cheap scrapbook, glue sticks, and scissors, and gather all the bridal and other magazines you've been acquiring before the proposal even came, Brides, TheKnot, Bridal Guide, Instyle Weddings, Essence, People, Glamour, Ebony, Latina, Oriental Trading, Jean M, Ann's Bridal Bargain, and Exclusively Wedding to name a few.

Make cut outs of what you like, such as the following:

1. Color schemes that go well/interest you

2. Poses--what better (and artistic) way to explain to your photographer what poses you are looking for

3. Favors that you like

4. Flower arrangements (and colors) that you like--what better way to explain your desires to your florist.

5. Stationary (invites, programs, menu cards, escort cards, etc) that interest you

6. Decor arrangement--what better way to decide what you like or don't like about ceremony & reception sites

7. Tips--a great way to keep these all handy

8. Bridal accessories

9. Reception & Ceremony accessories

10. Bridal Attire

11. Ceremony & Reception sites (or site of choice)

These are just some ideas. If I could take a picture of my actual montage I would. I've used it to explain to my stationary designer (Jean Anderson & Jean M staff), videographer, photographer, and florist (to name a few vendors where this has come in handy to show) when we had our meetings. It was a great way to show exactly what I was looking for so they could have something visual to go work with.

Believe me when I say, everyone was appreciative including myself. I was confident, happy and decisive when it came to making decisions. Saving money and time!

Don't short change yourself by not

1) knowing your vision and
2) being able to articulate it to the proper people who are in charge of making your big day a reality.

Happy Planning.

Respectfully,

The Future Lady Dreher

Healthy Eating Tips

2009-03-14T21:50:00.002-04:00

What's the best way to lose weight? Get engaged. We all know that our motivation for losing weight and getting in shape greatly increases with the impending wedding in mind. I love to cook and really love trying to make my favorite dishes into healtier options. So here are some really great eating/cooking tips for all of you brides to be:

1. Salmon. Salmon. Salmon. This is probably the best possible food that you could put into your mouth. The Omega-3 fats are are essential to your diet and actually aid in losing weight. I have a few delicious recipes that I will post later.

2. Think green. Dark leafy greens have very important vitamins and minerals. Spinach is great to have with your salad and really helps to fill you up.

3. Good Carbs. Oat, barley, and quinoa are great substitutes for rice and pasta. They have a decent amount of protein and our a great source of fiber. They fill you up fast so you don't even eat a lot of them. I will give recipes for these later as well.

4. Cinnamon. Yep that's right. Add cinnamon to your oatmeal or cerel in the morning or to any sweet desert. It keeps your blood sugar from rising, can lower cholesterol, and is a source of fiber, calcium, and iron. A teaspoon of cinnamon a day will do wonders.

5. Non-fat plain yogurt. I use this for as a great lowfat substitute to mayo, ranch dressing, and sour cream. Just season it how you wish (garlic salt and pepper) and add to your tuna, salads, and tacos. The yogurt also helps keep your digestive system on track.

6. Fruit. Apples and pears are great fibrous fruits that you should eat every day. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on them and you kill two birds with one stone.

7. Flax seeds. They have almost no taste. So grind them up and sprinkle them on whatever you want. The have those good ole omega-3s.

8. Herbs and Spices. They are good for you and help make you enjoy your health food more. The more you use of these, the less salt you will need to use.

This is all for now. I will get some of my most delicious healthy recipes together and post those another time.