Well - it's happened to many before me and I've always wondered how it was done. But now I'll have to figure it out for myself....Nick got laid off yesterday. No severence, no nothing - just done.
We're in decent spirits as of now - I'm just channeling all the strength I have in order to pass some on to him and keep his head up. Hopefully unemployment comes through with some decent checks and he finds something (if not just freelance work) in a decent timeframe.
I'd be lying if I wasn't totally overwhelmed with selfish thoughts about the wedding. I'm trying really hard to not turn to those complaints because it's so incredibly selfish - I'm obviously more worried about other things being paid for before it. But I'm also scared that at some point...it's all going to come to a head and we're both going to realize "uh...WAIT a minute! we no longer can afford the wedding we once conceived of." I'm scared to even open up my budget spreadsheet and cut out the dollar amounts that we were expecting his paychecks to give towards the big day. Not to mention the fact that that employer had offered to pay for our honeymoon airfare...oye.
Nonetheless - I'm lucky to have an amazing man like him, and I'm going to give him all the love and support I can and we'll figure it out and get through it together. At least we have each other to lean on.
Save The Dates
12.09.2009
Have I mentioned lately how much FUN being engaged is? :)
But I have to admit...the time suck that is engagement is a true story – totally not mythical…I promise! Nonetheless – here’s a quick update on the wedding!
And for your DIY and paper pleasure…here are our save the dates!
I had originally budgeted $150 for 100 STDs...here's how it came out:
But I have to admit...the time suck that is engagement is a true story – totally not mythical…I promise! Nonetheless – here’s a quick update on the wedding!
- We’ve set the date for May 29, 2010
- We have a church, a reception site and almost a photographer.
- We’re having a bridal party of 4 bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen, my daughter (more on this to come) as the flower girl and no ring bearer.
- We’re having a live band (which I’m SO excited about!)
- We’re hopefully having a photobooth and a popcorn buffet (which I’m also SO excited about!)
And for your DIY and paper pleasure…here are our save the dates!
Nick working hard...
Me working...hard?
The Cricut that my FSIL bought us (SO SWEET!) working really hard!
The outside - it's just a two fold card with clear tabs on all three sides keeping it together.
The final product! Nick designed the whole thing (with my help, of course) and I did the rings on the Cricut and we assembled!
Oh - and check out the monogram on the return address label.
I had originally budgeted $150 for 100 STDs...here's how it came out:
- White cardstock from Archiver's - 50 sheets at $0.49 each during a buy one get one sale = $12.25
- Green cardstock from Archiver's for embellishment - 20 sheets at $0.49 each during a buy one get one sale = $4.90
- Address labels from Office Depot - $12
- Return address labels from Office Depot - $0.67 (they were on clearance!)
- Tab stickers from Office Depot - $2.99
- Scrapbooking glue for embellishments from Office Depot - $3.99
- Cricut machine - Free (gift from FSIL while on super clearance on Black Friday)
- Printed on home inkjet - Free
- Postage - 75 first class stamps (we hand delivered a few to our co-workers, etc) = $33
Will You Be My Bridesmaid?
11.20.2009
I wanted to make sure and ask my bridesmaids in a creative and fun way so I made some cards for them. My bridesmaids will consist of my best friend Katherine (maid of honor), my great friend Rachel, my sister-in-law Hope and my future sister-in-law Melissa. DB is having his brother as his best man, one of his good friends and my two brothers as his groomsmen.
Here are the cards I made...
I bought 3 pieces of white (there's a little grain in it) cardstock from Archivers for $.49/each and they were buy one-get one so I paid a total of $.74. Then I bought some fabric from JoAnn's for like $3 of the green that I love. The plan is black and white with a green accent. It's like a kiwi green so I wanted to include it on the card so that the girls could undersatnd the shade. I made a skirt out of the fabric and glued it onto the card. I drew the boddess of the dress and added a black ribbon bow from ribbon from JoAnn's that I paid $2 for. I found some cute poems online and printed those inside the cards (there are different ones for each girl to convey different relationships).
Here are the cards I made...
I bought 3 pieces of white (there's a little grain in it) cardstock from Archivers for $.49/each and they were buy one-get one so I paid a total of $.74. Then I bought some fabric from JoAnn's for like $3 of the green that I love. The plan is black and white with a green accent. It's like a kiwi green so I wanted to include it on the card so that the girls could undersatnd the shade. I made a skirt out of the fabric and glued it onto the card. I drew the boddess of the dress and added a black ribbon bow from ribbon from JoAnn's that I paid $2 for. I found some cute poems online and printed those inside the cards (there are different ones for each girl to convey different relationships).
Award!
11.17.2009
Chaotic Bliss honored me with the Sugar Doll award! What a sweet blogger! She has lots of inspiration and fun over at her blog – go check her out!
So here are my 10 quirky things about me:
1. I prefer my pop to be warm. And I love it even more if it's flat. mmm.
2. I pick up lyrics to songs at an unusually fast rate. I could hear a song twice and know all the lyrics. I'd love to go on one of those lyric shows and show off my talent! :)
3. I’m seriously addicted to caffeine. If I don’t have some within the first hour of waking up my whole day is ruined with an awful headache!
4. I have a “midget” toe on my right foot that is noticeably shorter than the rest of my toes.
5. I could eat pizza for every meal, every day of my life. No problem.
6. I’m a terrible whistler despite my brass-playing talents.
7. I hate the sound of a vacuum. When I was growing up my mom would always wait till I wasn't home to vacuum so I wouldn't have to endure it.
8. I have dated a guy from every branch of the service (totally not on purpose, lol)
9. I wore a fake engagement ring when I was pregnant in hopes of avoiding some stares.
10. I have always wanted to be a winter bride even though I live in Minnesota. Oh well - I don't want to wait that long now that I'm actually engaged!
Here’s who I’m passing this fab award on to!
1. Seaside Smitten
2. That Officer’s Wife
3. The Indecisive Bride
4. Cupcake Wedding
5. Soon to be Lindsay May
So now you have some new reading material with these lovely blogs. Thanks again, Chaotic Bliss!!
So here are my 10 quirky things about me:
1. I prefer my pop to be warm. And I love it even more if it's flat. mmm.
2. I pick up lyrics to songs at an unusually fast rate. I could hear a song twice and know all the lyrics. I'd love to go on one of those lyric shows and show off my talent! :)
3. I’m seriously addicted to caffeine. If I don’t have some within the first hour of waking up my whole day is ruined with an awful headache!
4. I have a “midget” toe on my right foot that is noticeably shorter than the rest of my toes.
5. I could eat pizza for every meal, every day of my life. No problem.
6. I’m a terrible whistler despite my brass-playing talents.
7. I hate the sound of a vacuum. When I was growing up my mom would always wait till I wasn't home to vacuum so I wouldn't have to endure it.
8. I have dated a guy from every branch of the service (totally not on purpose, lol)
9. I wore a fake engagement ring when I was pregnant in hopes of avoiding some stares.
10. I have always wanted to be a winter bride even though I live in Minnesota. Oh well - I don't want to wait that long now that I'm actually engaged!
Here’s who I’m passing this fab award on to!
1. Seaside Smitten
2. That Officer’s Wife
3. The Indecisive Bride
4. Cupcake Wedding
5. Soon to be Lindsay May
So now you have some new reading material with these lovely blogs. Thanks again, Chaotic Bliss!!
Pssst...Giveaway!
11.12.2009
If you don't already follow iDiY - go run there now! Full of inspiration and great projects
And even better - they're giving away a L Letterpress via Lifestyle Crafts!
What more could a good DIY, budget-friendly bride ask for?! GO!
And even better - they're giving away a L Letterpress via Lifestyle Crafts!
What more could a good DIY, budget-friendly bride ask for?! GO!
From my Inbox - FIVE Event Center
11.11.2009
FIVE Event Center is the hottest new venue in downtown Minneapolis. At FIVE - you can host your ceremony and/or reception in the hip downtown Minny atmosphere. Their rental prices are reasonable and you can bring in outside catering! And even better - they're having an open house and wine tasting for prospective clients!
What: Open House and Wine Tasting
Who: Current and Potential Clients
When: Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 5:00pm-8:30pm
Where: FIVE Event Center (2917 Bryant Avenue South)
Where: FIVE Event Center (2917 Bryant Avenue South)
RSVP: By November 13th to five@fiveeventcenter.com
(I got this invite because I had inquired there - you may want to mention that you aren't currently on their list)
(I got this invite because I had inquired there - you may want to mention that you aren't currently on their list)
Stop by anytime and enjoy the space, live jazz, DJ and catered food by Lettuce Cater, Create Catering and Consulting, Fabulous Catering and Common Roots Cafe.
BONUS! If you book within 10 days of the Open House and Tasting you can receive 10% off the rental fee!
(*Event must be held on Friday or Saturday night in 2010.)
Offer Expires: 11/27/09
Trying to make progress.
11.10.2009
It’s absolutely insane how quickly it goes from walking on air excitement over the engagement to needing to make decisions NOW.
A lot of the pressure I feel is because we want a short engagement. That makes me not want to waste any more day with out a deposit down and decision made on many things. So many venues and people are already booked for our timeframe – I feel the need to get a lot of things done yesterday!
So this past weekend I frantically emailed a friend of mine who is a wedding planner in Ohio to ask some advice. My main problem is finding a reception venue because it's so hard to compare apples to oranges! Everyone has different things included in their prices and I'm having a hard time keeping them all straight.
So here's what she told me - it may help someone else out!
Try and come up with a Per Person price for each venue.
Those quidelines and questions helped me think a bit more clearly - because frankly - I was bit overwhelmed with all the information!
Tricia also gave me a deadline - which was helpful. We're planning a May wedding which means I need to get moving - so I promised her I'd have my main 5 biggies in stone before Christmas - church, reception, photographer, vidoegrapher, florist, musicians. Here we go!
A lot of the pressure I feel is because we want a short engagement. That makes me not want to waste any more day with out a deposit down and decision made on many things. So many venues and people are already booked for our timeframe – I feel the need to get a lot of things done yesterday!
So this past weekend I frantically emailed a friend of mine who is a wedding planner in Ohio to ask some advice. My main problem is finding a reception venue because it's so hard to compare apples to oranges! Everyone has different things included in their prices and I'm having a hard time keeping them all straight.
So here's what she told me - it may help someone else out!
Try and come up with a Per Person price for each venue.
- So this is what you probably do need/want:
- Sit down meal - for figuring sakes, go with a simple chicken dish from each venue
- Bar - typically a 4 hour bar is plenty, bottom level
- Champagne pour - preferably for all guests
- tables/chairs
- Cake service
- Linens - most places will give you basic linens (not floor length - that is an upgrade)
- Find out what the extras are:
- what is their service charge - typically 20% of the food and beverage cost...is there any other fees associated with the service staff
- what is their tax fee
- do they have a security fee
- do they have a cake cutting fee
- What time can people come in to setup - do you have the entire day of the wedding?
- is there a bartendar fee or is that included in the bar charges?
Those quidelines and questions helped me think a bit more clearly - because frankly - I was bit overwhelmed with all the information!
Tricia also gave me a deadline - which was helpful. We're planning a May wedding which means I need to get moving - so I promised her I'd have my main 5 biggies in stone before Christmas - church, reception, photographer, vidoegrapher, florist, musicians. Here we go!
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