Reception Ideas

Okay, so we all know that our MAIN wedding color is orange. When Ed and I visited the Old Capitol Inn back in October and REALLY went through the ballroom and saw that the room can be kind of dark. We also found out that there are a LIMITED number of the gold chivari chairs that they have (110) for use. They do have PLENTY of banquet chairs (you know, the angle-backed metal chairs with cushion seats). Not going to work with the decor :). They will HAVE to be covered.

So, we've been looking and calling around to linen rental places. Our FAV is BBJ Linen. They have such a WIDE variety of choices at reasonable prices. We are going to use an ivory or white polyester chair cover with a beautiful paprika gold chair tie. The guest tables will also be covered with the paprika gold table linen. We think white may be TOO strong against the paprika gold and am thinking the ivory will go better. We are going to have to think on that one for a sec...

The wedding cake tables will have their own table cover. We want a lighter color for the cake tables and are thinking about this one.

This will be a buffet dinner with Louisiana-style food choices (crawfish etouffee, shrimp and grits, BBQ shrimp, etc.). The food at Old Capitol Inn is REALLY good. So, we are VERY happy with our menu choices.

As far as centerpieces, we want something simple and elegant. We want the people sitting at the same table to be able to see each other as they talk and eat.

I personally like the tall, glass, cylinder vases, filled with water with flowers submerged in the water and the vase surrounded by several votive candles (see, the candle thing keeps popping up). That's it. Nothing more than that. This, too, will have to be thought over.

Well, I'll let you all know what we come up with, for sure! Stay tuned...

Invitation Designs

Okay, for months now, we've known that we want a "pocketfold" type of invitation due to the fact that you can put everything you need in it. We all know that there are technological advances and the internet is a wonderful tool, but NOT EVERYONE has access to the internet on a regular basis (yeah, that digital divide issue is working on me). Plus, we love the look and convenience that they offer.

Well, since this seems to be a fairly new thing in invitations, there aren't many vendors to give us what we are looking for. They are either the WRONG color orange or too small or not enough inserts or TOO EXPENSIVE! I did find a young lady in New York who designed her OWN invitations. She is a graphic designer and does REALLY nice work. I've been working with her on the designs for all of our paper products for the wedding.

We don't really have a "theme", per se. I do like the idea of Southern Elegance with a touch of FUN, FUN, FUN at the reception.

We want the ceremony to be very intimate and spiritual and the reception to be FUN! For the ceremony, we want something very simple and elegant for decorations (like, candles only) because we are only going to be in there 45 minutes, TOPS, and that includes the prelude! We are not here to carry on an opera and have the wedding party taking 80 years to get down the isle. Yes, they should be noticed, but this isn't what the ceremony is about. The wedding party is there, supporting the bride and groom, saying that they believe in the union and they support it.

In our opinion, a wedding is not a form of entertainment for others. We are not here to have you say, "Ooooo, she can really sing" or "WOW, did you see that dress" but more of, "Yeah, I can vouch for this union and holding this couple accountable to staying married". You feel me on this?! That is what we want the ceremony to be based on, not looking at all the decorations and saying how cute they are. That is NOT the point of a wedding, in our opinion.

I digressed, back to the invitations........

Our colors are orange (not burnt orange, not tangerine, not rust) and hot pink/fuschia. I would like a design that carries over from the Save-The-Dates to the invitations to the wedding programs. So, we are currently working on that.

I'll let you know what I find! Smooches!

Guest List

Let me start this off by saying one thing, that dang guest list almost drove me to DRINK this weekend!!! I combined the lists from my side and Ed's side. Can I tell you 3 names overlapped?! I put all of the information into a self-made Filemaker database (I love that software).

So, um..............yeah.........about that database....296 entires (entry being Mr. and Mrs. John Doe and family)?! Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw, buddy. That list has GOT to come down, in numbers! I told Ed and my Mom that I know we all see people around the holidays and they has how we/the kids are doing and you say, "Oh, XXXX is getting married". DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO SEND THEM AN INVITATION!! If these are pass-by friends, nope. If these are real family friends, then, we'll think on it.

Now, if people want to donate money to the cause, sure, add who you like to the list. Otherwise, Ed and I hold the discretionary power to remove whom we choose to. Am I wrong?

Some people, you send invites to, out of courtesy, though you know they cannot attend. Some of these other arbitrary/wanna-be-nosy/do-not-have-your-best-interest-at-heart kind of folks, BYE! Nope!

I compiled the guest list and emailed it (don't you just love technology) to Ed and my Mom for their sides to review and give back to me before COB on Friday, shorter with ALL pertinent information (names of children, name of spouse, etc.). Some of the information I already had, but some I did not.

We are planning on sending out Save-The-Dates in December, so that those out of town will know in plenty of time and can plan to attend (yay or nay).

Etiquette states if you send a Save-The-Date, you MUST sent an invitation. I will NOT be a tacky turkey when it comes to wedding etiquette! Save that for informal family get-togethers!

Wish me luck this week. I already have the hack-saw sharpened and sitting by the computer to WHACK away at this guest list I am going to get back! Smooches!

Just In Case

Ed and I officially scheduled our medical exams for life insurance for December. The insurance company wanted us to be in the same physical location....at the same time...TOGETHER for our exams (strange) and not take them separately.

I guess this thing is really happening, huh (marriage, wedding, etc.)? WOW, this is just the first of MANY steps we are taking to get to May 31, 2008.

We decided to go with AIG due to their ratings, coverage and premium price. We did research on Zander Insurance Group website and talked to a few insurance companies.

Stay tuned for other events.