Monday, October 16, 2006

Blues and greens?

I think I'm leaning towards having blue and green be my colors, with accents of orange.... here are some looks i love....





Wedding coordinator blues

So, my mom insisted we hire a wedding coordinator, since we're doing the wedding in San Diego, and I live in L.A., but we hired the first one we spoke with and now I'm really wishing I had shopped around, or at least interviewed a few others. Turns out my coordinator usually deals with only higher end weddings, and has suggested an estimated budget for us at....$58,800!!!!! For 150 people! We're by no means wealthy, and I couldn't imagine spending a down payment for a home on a one day wedding! She's trying to tell me that paying anything less than 6500 for a photographer comprimises "quality," and that we can go lower than 4500 for flowers, but we'd be looking pretty sparse. Come on! I work in production! I wasn't born yesterday, and I know how to finagle a deal or two! And more specifically, when we hired her, I told her I wanted her to think party, not wedding. So, for those of you that in the market for a coordinator, I would suggest asking the following questions:

What is the average budget of the weddings you plan?

Do you have vendors to reccomend that fall in a variety of price ranges?

Do you think you can still acheive an amazing event despite any budget limitations?

Those are three questions I wish I would have asked before I signed her contract. Now I'm not sure if we're stuck, or if I should figure out how to cut our losses and hire someone else!

Did any of you have problems or concerns with a coordinator? Are there any other questions you might ask before hiring one on?

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Photo booth fun!


I am really excited about having a photo booth at the wedding! It will be a great way for people to have their own keepsakes, and also to have fun imprompotu photos for our guestbook! I'm thinking of using these guys, Red Cheese photo booth, because they give you two copies (so your friends won't steal the ones intended for your guest book!)



Monday, October 09, 2006

I registered!

Sorry the posts have been sporatic! I shoot on fridays, and this weekend i was computerless-- my dear old mac is in the shop and they're back-logged so i'm out a home computer for a week!

So, I started our first registration at Crate and Barrell, I think we're also going to do Macy's and either Williams Sonoma or Z Gallerie, we thought about registering at Target, but we shop there ourselves all the time, and isn't the point of a registery for the sorts of nicer things you wouldn't be normaly buying yourself? I don't think I'll feel truly married until I have a cuisineart standing mixer and some crystal and china! I went to Crate and Barrel with my engaged best friend, and it was so much fun to have the scanner and run like crazy through the store! I didn't register for much since my fiance wasn't there, but I did pick out some cookbooks and great kitchen stuff like cedar wood for bbqing and a french press!

Where did you decide to register? And how many places did you end up registering at? And in the end, what did you end up getting, keeping or taking back?

Thursday, October 05, 2006

I love orchids!





I definitely want orchids everywhere!

Economical bridesmaids dresses

I'm trying to find some hot, fun, funky dresses for my super stylish ladies, but everything I'm finding is waaaaaaaaaay out of what I think is an appropriate price range! I've been in a few weddings where we just found material and got dresses made, but that can be a hit or miss depending on the dress-maker. I also don't want the girls spending tons of money on something that they may never wear again. How much do you think is too much to ask your girls to spend on dresses? And have you ever been in a wedding that you actually wore the dress again?

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Asking your bridesmaids

I've already asked most of my bridesmaids to be in my wedding just over the phone, but I just ordered the cutest "Will you be my bridsmaid?" cards to send out as an official invitation, but also I would love to include the story of our friendship and why they are so special to me. The cards are adorable, it says "Will you be my bridesmaid? I promise not to make you wear an ugly dress!" I'll post a copy when I recieve them!

My fiance and I are trying to figure out what gifts to give to our wedding party, I'm definitley doing name necklaces for the girls (a la "Sex in the City" Carrie necklace) and we're thinking either cuff links for the guys or these flasks from Urban Outfitters that I found that have "El Boracho" engraved on them (which for those of you that don't speak spanish, means "the drunk," a completely appropriate gift for our groomsmen!)



What are some other unique gifts to give to a wedding party?