Budget, Check!

If you've been following this blog, you know My Guy popped the question back in February (about 7 months ago for anyone counting), and we've been basking in engagement bliss ever since.  After he popped the big question we immediately started talking about venues.  We knew we wanted something beautiful with a view (what bride doesn't?), and we knew it needed to be fairly large in size (with a guest list looming at 200 we knew we wanted elbow room).  Originally we had planned on a fall 2013 wedding day, and I was excited to have our photos with a foliage landscaped background.  We went to look at one venue, based on what it listed on line, it seemed right up our alley; affordable, large in size, outdoor, tented dance floor, indoor bar and cocktail area, overlooking an apple orchid I thought I was in love. We drove a little over an hour to the venue, and despite the drive I was still hoping this was our spot.  My Guy's family is traveling from Oregon to Boston for our big day, and thinking about asking them to travel even further from their hotel for a few hours seemed selfish, but on we went. 
So we get there, and it's as breathtaking as the pictures showed on line; though it was March, the trees and grounds were perfect.  It was everything I had hoped... then came the "between the lines."  On line the charge for the venue was about $4800 less than what we were told in person, we were also told that they did all the catering and no outside food would be allowed to be brought in- again, different from what it said on the website, and the real kicker; we had to evacuate the property by 10pm (all vendors included), which means our party would need to be over around 9pm. 
Needless to say, after making My Guy drive all the way to the western part of the state, suffering a little financial shock, and feeling like we got punched in the gut, we were a little more than discouraged. 
Months went by, we hemmed and hawed about what we were going to do.  He was pushing for a destination wedding, and I just wanted to be a princess for a day- surrounded by 200 of our nearest and dearest friends and family.  I dragged my feet in planning, bummed that it seemed as if we couldn't afford the wedding we (I) wanted.  Last month, someone asked how wedding planning was going, and I told her that it wasn't going well.  I hadn't done anything, I'd just been so busy.  Well, she almost exploded.  She was furious with me, telling me that this isn't something I should be putting off, this is the rest of my life, and there was a reason I wasn't moving forward, and it wasn't because I was too busy.  In my head I heard my little finance manager whispering "Put together a budget, and make it happen,"  Well, put together a budget I did... and as it turns out, we will be having the wedding WE want, and I couldn't be more excited!!
Stay tuned for updates on picking our venue, developing our budget, sacrifices we've made, and an introduction to my bridal party!

Plan B

Ugh.  Back to the drawing board... maybe.  Being a bride is overwhelming, and when you're someone that hates to make decisions, all the options can be overwhelming.  After six long months of hemming and hawing, avoiding, and procrastinating we found a venue... or so we thought.  It seemed as if everything was coming together, and using an all inclusive venue was going to make my  life a whole lot easier.  The Event Coordinator offered us a few dates, and we looked at our calendar, we talked with our families, and we were moving forward- or so we thought.  As it turns out, our date is no longer available... sending us back to the drawing board.  I do have a hopeful other trick up my sleeve, it will require a few more decisions to be made on our part, and we will have a little more creative liberty. 
In the meantime, I'm selfishly hoping that there is a cancellation, or I come across something equally as excellent.

Renting vs Buying

Last night, while doing my evening wedding research I happened upon what I consider to be a very brilliant idea... Wedding Gown Rentals.  Now, I love to look at dresses just as much as the next girl, but part of the reason I haven't entered a Bridal Boutique is I'm petrified to look at the price tags.  I love a strapless dress with a little oommf to the bottom, and ideally a little bead or crystal detail work for accent. 
So here I am, pinning away on Pinterest (do you follow me?  BloggingToBliss), when a cute pin comes up about renting gowns... so I do a general google search for Wedding Gown Rentals in Boston and do links populate!
I found a shop that offers rentals as close as 25 minutes away from me... and the pricing (which does not include alterations), seems quite reasonable.  However, I'm sentimental and would I really go for RENTING a dress?
My thoughts:  I'm only going to wear my wedding dress once, and while it would be a wonderful tradition to pass it along should I have a daughter I need to consider a few things.

1. I would NEVER wear my mother's wedding dress.  She was married in 1981.  I love my mother and father dearly, and I'm sure she looked gorgeous, but in 31 years, I think that fashions and trends are completely different.

2.  There's no promise that I will have a daughter, or that she will share the same figure as me, or style (see above).

3. Renting a dress could possibly afford us a few more guests at the wedding, or an upgrade at our honeymoon, or maybe just a few extra nights out together...

I'm on the fence about renting vs buying, and luckily have lots of time to think it over, and many married women to poll!

What are your thoughts?  Would you rent the gown of your dreams, or is it an emotional purchase in which you wouldn't want to part with?


Stacy

Advice from the Waiting Room

I ran into an old friend this morning while waiting an appointment and we had a few minutes to catch up; she's recently married, and expecting a little bundle of joy.  After chatting about her wedding, and what's she's been up to, she offered a few words of advice for my big day.

1.  It goes by so fast- make sure you eat.

2.  Get to your cocktail reception- make it to the party and say hello to everyone individually then- so when the music starts you can dance the night away!

4.  Keep certain traditions- there will be things that you can't change, take back, or do over.

3.  It's your day, while you want to be considerate of others and making life easy for them- make sure you enjoy it. 

While it's things every Bride To Be can find this advice in a magazine, or online hearing it from a friend made all the difference.

Date Night!

I was talking with my best friend this morning, whom is also engaged, and in the beginning phases of planning her wedding as well.  She said that last night she and her fiance had"date night," which simply consisted of the two of them cooking dinner together in their apartment, and catching up on some television.  The two of them travel an awful lot for work, and are constantly on the go, so nights at home for the two of them together are rare.  As soon as she started to describe her "date night," I automatically realized how lucky I really am. 
Since I own my own company, and My Guy works for corporate, we are fortunate enough to spend nearly every night together; and because I love to bond with my kitchen, we have home cooked meal on the regular.  When we feel like we are getting stuck in a rut, or just craving a night out, our "Date Night" usually consists of take out pizza along side a few games of Keno, or a few appetizers at My Guy's favorite restaurant.  We aren't much for extravagance, and we live pretty simply.
Planning a wedding is stressful, and much like a full time job is incredibly time consuming; but it's also really fun to gush over magazines and drool over websites.  My Guy wants to be participative, but at the same time wants me to do all the research.  I'll spend entire evenings online surfing the web for inspiration, sending emails and pinning ideas.   While I'm physically on the couch beside him, mentally I couldn't be further from our living room.  At the same time, My Guy fills a pretty stressful position at work, so it's not uncommon for him to come home and be glued to his email until he can hardly keep his eyes open anymore.  
Regardless of your lifestyle and how busy, or home bound you and your partner may be, it's so important to make time and have "Date Night."  This is the time where you can check in and make sure you're both on the same page with everything, and caught up to date on eachother's lives.  Date night is the perfect opportunity to just be in the moment together- no iPads, cell phones, or third wheels along for the ride.  Just you, and your partner.

~Stacy