Rants and Raves

Rave: I have some pretty amazing friends. Last night we all met up at Blu Martini for an engagement party for my friend Kristen and I. It was so refreshing to spend a couple hours with my friends on a Thursday night and not have to squeeze our chatting in during Grey’s Anatomy commercial breaks. Here is one of the “fun” pictures we took last night:

(Laura, Maria, Candice, Me, Kristen, DDD, Justine, Monica)
Rant: This week I took three of my friends dress shopping with me. Although I have two dresses that I am in love with, at this point, there is no way I will be able to decide between the two. And, I’m not appreciative of the pushy sales women that try to stick 10 veils, headpieces, and flowers into my hair at the same time.

Rave: Last night at the engagement party I asked Debbie Deb to be my Maid-of-Honor…and she happily accepted! So excited!!

Rant: I have decided that it is time for me to delegate. As much as it pains my heart, I must relinquish a LITTLE bit of control over my wedding. Baby steps right? DDD, I am entrusting you with picking out the bridesmaids’ dresses. Just make sure they are black.

Rave: My Company holiday party is tonight…which provides me with another chance to show off my bling!

Rave: One last rave, just because it’s Friday…I get to see Christopher today when he comes in to Indy from Cincinnati!

(Chris and I in Central Park this past summer)

A New Feature

Today I decided that I wanted to add a new feature to my blog...a poll!
Each poll will remain open for voting for around 5 days and I hope to post a new poll weekly.

This week's question is:
How often do you visit "Tying the Knot"?

I would really like to get a feel for how many people actually view my page and how often they visit and read what I have to say! And be honest, you won't hurt my feelings! I am so thankful for everyone who reads this page and leaves thoughtful and supportive and inspirational thoughts and ideas!

The poll is on the right column of this blog....vote now!!

{Results: 28 Votes: once a day: 19, a couple of times a week: 5, once a week: 1, occasionally: 3}

Status Update

I love to-do lists. I would create to-do lists all day and everyday if I could. Creating a "pretty" to do list using a sharpie marker and a post-it is one of my favorite past times. I almost have as much fun creating the to-do list as I have crossing the items off of the list. Lately, however, I have begun to resent to-do lists....wedding to-do lists. Each and every time I log onto The Knot our to-do list has grown and I still have not been able to cross anything off.

Take a look at our planning timeline that I created way before we were engaged:

this timeline is courtesy of miss daffodil, get the link to her timeline here
It is now almost December of 2007 and the only thing that has been accomplished is the draft of the guest list, which was only accomplished last night. As you can see above, the priest, church, hotel, reception site, and photographer were all supposed to have been booked BEFORE November. We don't even have our wedding party selected yet!
As for the tasks that were to have begun by December....only the wedding gown search and the honeymoon research have begun.
As of today there is nothing, but the guest list draft, that I can cross off the to-do list. Nothing!

But, I am getting my sharpie ready to cross off some items because here is the plan for this weekend:

• Chris and I are checking out 4 reception hall locations on Saturday and hopefully putting down a deposit sometime next week.
• We are meeting with the priest on Sunday...hopefully he will agree to marry us!
• Visiting 2 churches in Indianapolis and make a final decision on where we will have the ceremony.
• Deciding the wedding party.

The weekend of December 15th or 22 will (hopefully) be spent testing out various venues for the rehearsal dinner, determining our photographer, and deciding on a website to host our wedding information.

What were you most excited to cross off your wedding checklist?

Twiggy

This weekend my parents and I were reception hall shopping and actually came across a centerpiece idea we all loved! Three tall cases of alternating sizes were stuffed loosely with branches and a large white hydrangea sat propped up on the very bottom of the vase, amidst the twigs.

The arrangement was simple, affordable, and would add height to the tables at the reception hall. I would like to place the tall twig centerpieces at every other table and place a smaller and shorter gathering of hydrangeas at the other tables.

I found this picture on The Knot that captures some of what I am envisioning.

I would love to wrap/tie a thick plum ribbon around at least 1/2 of the vase.

And then I found this picture on The Knot and I would decorate the church like this in a heartbeat if I was going for a winter wonderland or fairytale themed wedding. The last thing that I need to do is think about changing my theme...again...

Are any of you doing anything twiggy or have some twiggy inspiration to share?!

The Interview

This coming Sunday Chris and I are meeting with the catholic priest who MIGHT preside over our wedding. I suppose this is the preliminary interview where all the uncomfortable questions are asked…or at least some of them. Do any of you have any insight as to what questions he might ask Chris and I?

Whhhhhaaatt?!?

I wanted to put together a list of "things" that have stopped me in my tracks during my 24 days of "actual and authorized" wedding planning and made me say, "Whhhhhaaatt?!?" Call me crazy, but I couldn't believe some of the "things" listed below:

• All Catholic churches in Indianapolis cost $1,000 to rent for your ceremony. Insane.
• A veil and headpiece can cost around $250. For a yard or two of tulle?! Snagging mine on eBay or perhaps borrowing one from a friend.
• The Grooms' parents are "supposed” to pay for the marriage license. Seriously? I think that Chris & I can cough up the $18 Indiana license fee ourselves.
• One reception hall wanted to charge $.30 for a small votive candle that would be placed on the tables. Ikea has 100 for $2.99 = three cents each.
• A keg of beer for $300. Now, I know that the reception places have to make their profit somewhere…but that equals out to about a $200 profit margin per keg!

Did any of you have any “Whhhhhaaattt?!? moments?

Light Bright

Now I know that in my last post I went on a little semi-serious rant about Martha Stewart.
And you can't blame me for that. I don't think that there isn't a person out there that doesn't pick up a MS magazine and stare in awe at her creations, and then resent seeing them because her perfection cannot be matched. And although I dislike her unmatchable perfection,
that doesn't mean that I can't still oogle over the projects featured in her magazines.

Check out this DIY light bright project:
Ala new piece of inspiration! I am thinking about putting one board covered in white fabric and one board covered in black fabric as a backer on various tables around my reception: escort card table, gift table, etc. I love the simplicity of the "firework" pattern and I think that it would add a little sparkle to my reception!
Go here for directions on how to make your own Light Bright!!