I have so many blog posts planned, but not entirely finished. This is wedding week for me in a huge way. Already I have found my wedding dress (yay!) and tasted some delicious reception food. I still have a meeting with the caterer, florist, and hair and makeup trials to round out the week. Oh, in the meantime, I am organizing and planning up a storm. Plus addressing and applying stamps to the save the dates. Have I gone crazy? I am ready for a nap just thinking about it.
So the blog thing, yeah, things are going to be a bit slow for a short while. Hang tight, I hope to bring you some awesome stuff soon! Thanks for being patient, and awesome!
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
The Registry List
Last week, we talked about some rules for wedding registries. I mentioned that I would get you the final registry list that The Man and I came up with when creating our own registry. There may be a few extra items on our registry, but this really helped us organize what was most important. You are welcome to print this out and use it to help you make your own ideal registry. Happy planning!
Fine Dining
□ Dinner Plates (12)
□ Salad Plates (12)
□ Bread and Butter Plates (12)
□ Bowls (12)
□ Dessert Bowls (12)
□ Saucers (12)
□ Teacups (12)
□ Sugar Bowl
□ Creamer
□ Beverage Pot
□ Assorted platters and serving bowls (5)
□ Cake Plate
□ Tiered Server
□ Chip and Dip
□ Gravy Boat
□ Salt and Pepper Shakers
□ Red Wine Glasses (12)
□ White Wine Glasses (12)
□ Champagne Glasses (12)
□ Double old-fashioned glasses (12)
□ Highball Glasses (12)
□ Decanter
□ Corkscrew
□ Flatware Chest
□ Hostess Set
□ Ladle
□ 3 Piece Serving Set
□ 5 Piece Place Setting Silverware (12)
□ Cake and Knife Serving Set
□ Knife Block
□ Steak Knives (8)
□ Paring Knife
□ Cleaver
□ Carving Knife
□ Kitchen Shears
□ Honing Steel
□ Bread Knife
□ Boning Knife
□ Chef Knife
Everyday Dining
□ Picnic Basket Set
□ Pitcher
□ Beverage Holder
□ Butter Dish
□ Sugar Bowl and Creamer
□ Water Glasses (12)
□ Juice Glasses (12)
Cooking/Baking Tools
□ Icing Spatula
□ Assorted Mixing Bowls
□ Potato Peeler
□ Grater
□ Pizza Wheel
□ Assorted Spatulas and Spoons
□ Garlic Press
□ Cutting Boards (assorted)
□ Measuring Cups & Spoons
□ Biscuit Cutters
□ Flour Sifter
□ Rolling Pin
□ Pasta Machine
□ Mortar and Pestle
□ Food Thermometer
□ Strainer
□ Colander
Cooking/Baking Pans
□ Cooling Rack
□ Assorted Baking Dishes, Casserole Dishes (6)
□ Muffin Pans (2)
□ Loaf Pan
□ Assorted Cake Pans (4)
□ Ramekins (8)
□ Spring Form Pan
□ Pie Pans (2)
□ Cookie Sheets (2)
□ Bundt Pan
□ Pizza Stone
□ Rotisserie Pan
□ Assorted Saucepans (3)
□ Steamer
□ Wok
□ Tea Kettle
□ Assorted Fry Pans (3)
□ Egg Pan
□ Griddle
□ Stock Pot
Cooking Electrics
□ Immersion Blender
□ Blender
□ Mixer
□ Food Processor
□ Toaster
□ Waffle Iron
□ Panini Press
□ Slow Cooker
Home Keeping
□ Sheet Set (2)
□ Pillow Case Sets (2)
□ Euro Pillows (2)
□ King Pillows (2)
□ Queen Pillows (2)
□ Comforter
□ Bath Towels (6)
□ Hand Towels (6)
□ Wash clothes (6)
□ Dish Towels (8)
□ Oven Mitt
□ Pot Holders (2)
Decorative
□ Candlesticks (4 total)
□ Crystal Vase
□ Glass Vase
Monday, December 9, 2013
Twelve Rules for Wedding Registries: A Guide
The Man and I finished our wedding registries this weekend. While a lot of the product research and sifting through hundreds of silverware patterns was certainly tedious, the daydreaming part was super fun. Registering can be a gateway dream though, so be careful. After the registries were complete, I found myself looking at houses online. You know, to store our gifts.
All partial kidding aside (it totally happened), there is so much information out there on the wedding registry, it can get a bit overwhelming. Yet, none of the lists or rule guides completely covered me. There wasn't one tailored specifically to my situation. You guessed it, I made my own rules. And I am sharing.
1. Etiquette. Don't assume people are going to give you gifts. The wedding is about celebrating your life with your future spouse. Gift giving is just a nice gesture, but shouldn't be expected. That being said, don't put your registry information in your invitations. I've read this everywhere, so it must be true.
2. To go along with #1, it is perfectly fine for your mother and future mother-in-law to tell anyone who asked where you are registered (feel free to insert "father" in any place that "mother" was, you never know who's the talker). It is also fine to include registry cards in your shower invitation, since the shower is about showering the couple with gifts for the future, and you aren't throwing that yourself anyway. If it's tasteful, the wedding website can also play host to your registry list.
3. There are tons of registry checklists on the internet. I suggest that you take a few of the lists, and create your own. If you search registry checklist on Pinterest, many good ones come up. The places you register will have their own lists. Making your own list doesn't take very much time, and will help you determine what is most important to you. For me, having someone buy me a bathroom scale seemed distasteful (because having pie pans is so much more important than a scale...), therefore it didn't make the list. I already love my mixer, so that didn't need to be on the list. And I desperately need a pizza stone and secretly want a bundt pan, but many lists did not include these as items. Update: Here's an example of my list. Please note, our list is only going to vaguely resemble your list.
4. Gifts should range in price from $5 to $500. If someone gets you a set of fancy mixing bowls, and still have $5 more they want to spend, they could add in a whisk to round out their gift. You shouldn't expect people to spend a certain amount on you (see first point above), so giving a variety of options takes a lot of the pressure off the giver.
5. Register with at least two but no more than three places. You want options, but don't want to spread yourself too thin. Think places that would be easily accessible to most of your guest, with many storefront locations as well as a website. Who knows how your guests feel most comfortable shopping? We decided to register at two places. It just made more sense from an organizational standpoint, we had a blast shopping at these two places, and too many more registries might have taken us off the deep end.
6. When you are registering, think about the longevity and usability of the items on your list. You want these items to last, not just by being durable, but also to appeal to your style now and twenty years from now. This being said, The Man and I didn't register for everyday china or fancy duvet covers or any item that we weren't entirely sold on. My tastes change just too frequently to commit to everyday china or bedding for life. We don't even have a house yet, so who knows what will match, and how often I will change my mind. And if you aren't sure, wait until you are.
7. Read reviews. Not just the ones on the website where you are registering for the items, but view consumer reports or the best "blenders" of 2013/2014. Just because the picture looks awesome and the three people who have had the item for three weeks says it chops in half the time of their 35 year old blender, doesn't mean it's the right one for you. The gift-givers are going to assume that you've already done your homework, and the item they are buying is the absolute best item for you. Make them right.
8. You are going to have to include some crystal and silver items on your list, no matter how old-fashioned you think they are. People like to give gifts like this, and you will be happy to have that crystal vase whenever you have stuffy, important people over to your house a few years from now. Just trust me.
9. There are things that you shouldn't register for. You're smart, so a lot of these don't need to be said. Just make sure you don't choose are things that are only for or appeal to one half of the couple. This isn't a Christmas list, it's a list of items that will help build your life together. Things like video games, food, and trips to the Opera should not be on your registry list, unless you are a hardcore gamer couple, and a large chunk of your guests share your enthusiasm. Or that meal and Opera trip is part of your honeymoon.
10. Speaking of honeymoon, there are many websites out there that provide honeymoon registries. I think it's a really interesting idea, and could be awesome if done right. (Here's an article I found that talks whether or not honeymoon registries are tacky). The Man and I decided that a honeymoon registry wasn't right for our new family, but mostly because we are young and just starting out. But you should consider it as an option.
11. Be sure to utilize the freebies that most registries offer. You get FREE STUFF because other people purchased items on your registry. Most registries offer a purchasing discount for the leftover things on your list after the wedding. This definitely helps in finishing off your china patterns, or getting the last few items that you think you NEED for your life together. (All you need is love!)
12. Have fun with it. It's super interesting to find out what you and your significant other both like. And the dreaming... yeah, it's pretty amazing. Plus, you get to run (carefully) around with a laser tag gun while people pour you mocktails. And remember, it's not about the things, it's about the time you spend with your loved ones.
This is the start of your married life. Love it.
All partial kidding aside (it totally happened), there is so much information out there on the wedding registry, it can get a bit overwhelming. Yet, none of the lists or rule guides completely covered me. There wasn't one tailored specifically to my situation. You guessed it, I made my own rules. And I am sharing.
1. Etiquette. Don't assume people are going to give you gifts. The wedding is about celebrating your life with your future spouse. Gift giving is just a nice gesture, but shouldn't be expected. That being said, don't put your registry information in your invitations. I've read this everywhere, so it must be true.
2. To go along with #1, it is perfectly fine for your mother and future mother-in-law to tell anyone who asked where you are registered (feel free to insert "father" in any place that "mother" was, you never know who's the talker). It is also fine to include registry cards in your shower invitation, since the shower is about showering the couple with gifts for the future, and you aren't throwing that yourself anyway. If it's tasteful, the wedding website can also play host to your registry list.
3. There are tons of registry checklists on the internet. I suggest that you take a few of the lists, and create your own. If you search registry checklist on Pinterest, many good ones come up. The places you register will have their own lists. Making your own list doesn't take very much time, and will help you determine what is most important to you. For me, having someone buy me a bathroom scale seemed distasteful (because having pie pans is so much more important than a scale...), therefore it didn't make the list. I already love my mixer, so that didn't need to be on the list. And I desperately need a pizza stone and secretly want a bundt pan, but many lists did not include these as items. Update: Here's an example of my list. Please note, our list is only going to vaguely resemble your list.
4. Gifts should range in price from $5 to $500. If someone gets you a set of fancy mixing bowls, and still have $5 more they want to spend, they could add in a whisk to round out their gift. You shouldn't expect people to spend a certain amount on you (see first point above), so giving a variety of options takes a lot of the pressure off the giver.
5. Register with at least two but no more than three places. You want options, but don't want to spread yourself too thin. Think places that would be easily accessible to most of your guest, with many storefront locations as well as a website. Who knows how your guests feel most comfortable shopping? We decided to register at two places. It just made more sense from an organizational standpoint, we had a blast shopping at these two places, and too many more registries might have taken us off the deep end.
6. When you are registering, think about the longevity and usability of the items on your list. You want these items to last, not just by being durable, but also to appeal to your style now and twenty years from now. This being said, The Man and I didn't register for everyday china or fancy duvet covers or any item that we weren't entirely sold on. My tastes change just too frequently to commit to everyday china or bedding for life. We don't even have a house yet, so who knows what will match, and how often I will change my mind. And if you aren't sure, wait until you are.
7. Read reviews. Not just the ones on the website where you are registering for the items, but view consumer reports or the best "blenders" of 2013/2014. Just because the picture looks awesome and the three people who have had the item for three weeks says it chops in half the time of their 35 year old blender, doesn't mean it's the right one for you. The gift-givers are going to assume that you've already done your homework, and the item they are buying is the absolute best item for you. Make them right.
8. You are going to have to include some crystal and silver items on your list, no matter how old-fashioned you think they are. People like to give gifts like this, and you will be happy to have that crystal vase whenever you have stuffy, important people over to your house a few years from now. Just trust me.
9. There are things that you shouldn't register for. You're smart, so a lot of these don't need to be said. Just make sure you don't choose are things that are only for or appeal to one half of the couple. This isn't a Christmas list, it's a list of items that will help build your life together. Things like video games, food, and trips to the Opera should not be on your registry list, unless you are a hardcore gamer couple, and a large chunk of your guests share your enthusiasm. Or that meal and Opera trip is part of your honeymoon.
10. Speaking of honeymoon, there are many websites out there that provide honeymoon registries. I think it's a really interesting idea, and could be awesome if done right. (Here's an article I found that talks whether or not honeymoon registries are tacky). The Man and I decided that a honeymoon registry wasn't right for our new family, but mostly because we are young and just starting out. But you should consider it as an option.
11. Be sure to utilize the freebies that most registries offer. You get FREE STUFF because other people purchased items on your registry. Most registries offer a purchasing discount for the leftover things on your list after the wedding. This definitely helps in finishing off your china patterns, or getting the last few items that you think you NEED for your life together. (All you need is love!)
12. Have fun with it. It's super interesting to find out what you and your significant other both like. And the dreaming... yeah, it's pretty amazing. Plus, you get to run (carefully) around with a laser tag gun while people pour you mocktails. And remember, it's not about the things, it's about the time you spend with your loved ones.
This is the start of your married life. Love it.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Wedding Inspiration Board
I have been in super wedding mode this past week. And I'm loving it. My planner is bursting with wedding events and activities. I am accomplishing so much, and it feels awesome.
To organize my thoughts, I have made several inspiration boards for each wedding category. Next week, I have hair trials, makeup trials, and a meeting with my florist, so that's what I will be giving you a sneak peak of today. I am also going dress shopping, but you are just going to have to be surprised on that one.
I foresee many wedding posts in the future.
To organize my thoughts, I have made several inspiration boards for each wedding category. Next week, I have hair trials, makeup trials, and a meeting with my florist, so that's what I will be giving you a sneak peak of today. I am also going dress shopping, but you are just going to have to be surprised on that one.
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| Wedding hair ideas. pictures from Pinterest |
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| Wedding makeup ideas, pictures from Pinterest |
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| Wedding flower ideas, pictures from Pinterest |
I foresee many wedding posts in the future.
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Address Box
As I was compiling the guest list for the wedding, I realized I needed an address book. I know, I could always store the addresses on my computer in Excel or Access. I actually have done that, and it is super helpful because I can keep track of who we've sent save-the-dates, invitations, and thank you notes, as well as whose response cards were returned with which menu option. However, I also wanted a paper copy, which should be obvious due to my predisposition towards old-fashioned pen and paper.
My wish-list for the address book made the search difficult. I wanted our purchase to be:
1. Cheap. Good things can be inexpensive too!
2. Fountain pen compatible.
3. Able to hold a lot of information in each entry.
4. Easily updated. Twenty somethings move around often.
5. Representative of both The Man and I. It couldn't be too girly. Pity.
6. Marginally attractive. Just because it can't be bedazzled or floral doesn't mean it is required to be ugly. It will be in our house after all!
7. Able to hold a lot of entries to fit our bazillion family members.
Long list of requirements, huh? Well, I couldn't find an address book that fit my laundry list, so I decided to make one. This was one of my weekend projects, and I just had to share.
Behold, our address box! I know this isn't an entirely new idea, but it was what worked the best for The Man and I.
We decided to go with a very cheap note card box, found on Amazon and chosen for simplicity and portability. You could get as crazy with the box as you want, such as using/making a card catalog out of wood or covering the box with floral contact paper. There are also smaller recipe boxes that would probably be a better option if you need less space. I didn't end up being thrilled with the quality of our box, but that's what you get when you ask for cheap, apparently. I will be updating the box whenever we have a more permanent residence.
Dividers. We debated about just buying cheap alphabetical note card dividers or making our own. We landed somewhere in between. I cut out scrap paper to 3x5 dimensions and added purchased tabs for convenience and durability. The tabs only came in packs of 25, so it was economical to be one short. I ended up lumping X, Y, and Z together in one lonely tab. Seriously, I need to find friends with X, Y, and Z last names, stat! The scrap book paper I already had, so that was helpful to our bottom line.
We bought a pack of 1000 3x5 note cards to use in our address box. Overkill? Yes. But, this will give us plenty of entries, as well as some back ups, and heck, we could probably use note cards as toilet paper now. These note cards support fountain pen ink and were the right price, so all in all, we were happy with the purchase. We use one card for each entry and replace it with a new one for each update. Less scratching out means less confusion (and it's prettier). We included: name, address, phone numbers, email, and household birthdays.
Here's how the price worked out: $4.77 for the note card box, $10.97 for 1000 note cards, and $2.72 for 25 tabs. That's a total of $18.46. We purchased them all on Amazon and had some other things we needed to get in the same trip, so we ended up getting free shipping.
We think that this little project turned out great/better than we hoped. It's a convenient system for us now, and hopefully, for the years to come.
Also, I really need to learn how to take better pictures. And I need a good spot to take pictures. And I need Photoshop. So please ignore the horrible picture quality, I am a work in progress.
In other news, I found these little cuties when I was out shopping last weekend. I went in to Ross looking for cheap craft supplies and found them peaking out at me in the housewares section, begging me to take them home and display them proudly in my kitchen. Okay, so they were even named after The Man and I before I left the store. (And yes, I know that they are both roosters. Leave me my illusion! I think I am the light blue one.) Okay, so my fiance thinks I am crazy, but a fun crazy, right?
My wish-list for the address book made the search difficult. I wanted our purchase to be:
1. Cheap. Good things can be inexpensive too!
2. Fountain pen compatible.
3. Able to hold a lot of information in each entry.
4. Easily updated. Twenty somethings move around often.
5. Representative of both The Man and I. It couldn't be too girly. Pity.
6. Marginally attractive. Just because it can't be bedazzled or floral doesn't mean it is required to be ugly. It will be in our house after all!
7. Able to hold a lot of entries to fit our bazillion family members.
Long list of requirements, huh? Well, I couldn't find an address book that fit my laundry list, so I decided to make one. This was one of my weekend projects, and I just had to share.
We decided to go with a very cheap note card box, found on Amazon and chosen for simplicity and portability. You could get as crazy with the box as you want, such as using/making a card catalog out of wood or covering the box with floral contact paper. There are also smaller recipe boxes that would probably be a better option if you need less space. I didn't end up being thrilled with the quality of our box, but that's what you get when you ask for cheap, apparently. I will be updating the box whenever we have a more permanent residence. Dividers. We debated about just buying cheap alphabetical note card dividers or making our own. We landed somewhere in between. I cut out scrap paper to 3x5 dimensions and added purchased tabs for convenience and durability. The tabs only came in packs of 25, so it was economical to be one short. I ended up lumping X, Y, and Z together in one lonely tab. Seriously, I need to find friends with X, Y, and Z last names, stat! The scrap book paper I already had, so that was helpful to our bottom line.
We bought a pack of 1000 3x5 note cards to use in our address box. Overkill? Yes. But, this will give us plenty of entries, as well as some back ups, and heck, we could probably use note cards as toilet paper now. These note cards support fountain pen ink and were the right price, so all in all, we were happy with the purchase. We use one card for each entry and replace it with a new one for each update. Less scratching out means less confusion (and it's prettier). We included: name, address, phone numbers, email, and household birthdays.
We think that this little project turned out great/better than we hoped. It's a convenient system for us now, and hopefully, for the years to come.
Also, I really need to learn how to take better pictures. And I need a good spot to take pictures. And I need Photoshop. So please ignore the horrible picture quality, I am a work in progress.
 |
| Please ignore my ugly counter tops. I'm renting! Otherwise, cute, right? |
Monday, October 21, 2013
12 Rules for the Perfect Wedding Binder
I didn't want it to say wedding anywhere on it. I guess I was trying not to have eager bride show up on every surface of everything, because the fact that I can't stop grinning and cooing would probably clue you in. The binder was $24. Plus shipping. Here's almost the exact same thing that is just as pretty and a fraction of the price. But I had fallen in love and that was that. Isn't that how all this money ends up getting spent in the wedding industry?
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| The inside of the wedding binder-ooh and a save the date preview! |
Here are some rules that I have come up with in the process of planning that can help you organize your own wedding binder. Learn from my failures, please. And yes, overall, it turned out amazing.
1. You don't need to buy a fancy-pants wedding book to have an awesome and organized wedding.
2. You don't need to spend a lot of money on the supplies to create your own binder. You can use things you have lying around the house, like an extra notebook or plain yellow post-its.
3. You can use Pinterest and blogs to get most of the wedding information you need. In my wedding planning binder, I used all free wedding planning printables found from various sources, and if they didn't have the information in a format I liked, I typed my own. Since I'm an organizing nut and it was enough for me, then I promise, it can work for you too.
4. Do not fill out everything in your wedding binder the moment you get/create it. I made that mistake, and ended up creating a few too many sections that I won't be using. No, I'm not going to be lugging around all of the guest information, each on its own designated page. Since my caterer and venue are in the same place, I didn't need two separate sections for that information. And I'm not renting a dang thing, so a rentals section was ultimately unnecessary. Too much information is cumbersome and makes it a lot harder to keep organized. Just create things when you know you need them.
5. Include a timeline and to do list of when you would like to get things done. There's a ton of good information about this all over the internet, so formulate it into one document that works for you. Don't stress when you go over your timeline, as some things take longer than others. Just move on to the next easiest thing on the list.
6. Make sure you include names, emails, addresses, and phone numbers of all your major vendors. Likely, they will give you a business card when you go to visit them. You can just tape that right into your binder. Ta Da!
7.You need pockets, or a clear zip pocket. Fabric swatches, post-its, brochures, a pen. These things all will need a home on the fly. Best $3 I've spent on this binder business.
8. Make your binder planning central. Take notes in it. I used a little notebook and stuck it in a zip pocket, but lined paper probably would have worked better. Print pictures of things you love and stick it in there, so when you visit your vendors, you can open to what you like.
9. Get a few waterproof sheet protectors to put copies of all contracts in. Trust me, it's a good idea.
10. Personalize it in little ways. My tabs and notebook are representative of my wedding colors. My handwriting is everywhere, even my misspellings (shhhh). A wedding binder is something to be proud of.
11. The budget section must be included and must become your best friend. Review that sucker before any big decision or small one. The small ones are normally what get you (what do you mean I don't need an $80 life size paper flower?!) When you go to create your budget, make a list of your top three "non-negotiables" aka things that have to be in the wedding. Okay, so your fiance needs to make a list too. And if you have families like ours, maybe each set of parents could have some "non-negotiables" within reason. This way you know where money needs to be spent, and where you can afford to negotiate.
12. You will have to give up your binder on wedding day. Likely, this will be difficult. Give it to your maid of honor. Mine will be going to my mom (sorry Mom).
Notes about Tabs:The sections I do find useful include: To-Do Lists, Budget, Bridal Party (including contact, dress, and tux information), Ceremony, Floral, Menu, Music, Dessert, Photography, Stationary, Transportation, Accommodations, Dress, Beauty, Registry, Honeymoon. Please add or subtract as many as you would like depending on how you want to organize and what your wedding includes.
My To-Do Lists include a time line of all required planning, a time line of the few days before the wedding, checklists of things I can't forget, and a day-of planner for me, the bridal party, the groom (of course!), and my vendors.
Most of the other tabs include all vendor contact information, pictures, details, pricing, and contracts. My Stationary tab has a list of all the different parts of the wedding invitation process, including save-the-dates and thank yous. I have an excel spreadsheet with guest information to organize: that each piece of wedding stationary is sent, the response, and the dinner option chosen.
Happy Planning!
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