Yeh. Just under 5 months left. And the madness is setting in. All that energy I had going into it, organizing, being on top of things? Yeh, gone. The money situation doesn't help, for sure. I was working -constantly-, but last week I got smacked down by The Mystery Illness, which took me out of commission for a full week. And I didn't have the sick time to cover it all. So no overtime, much less regular work time, for this coming paycheck. Now they're telling me that they're putting a cap on it-- only 20 hours of overtime a week. So now I'm starting to scrutinize things, going 'Eh, it's an -aquarium-, people don't need tables or extra seating. The point is to walk around, after all. Plus, there's always those benches that are already there. I've started looking at things backwards. Before I was so proud, I'd secured the flowers, picked a venue, gotten my dress...Now I still haven't paid the deposit for decor, called the DJ and initial venue to cancel, booked those damn hotel blocks (which I'll get to in a minute), or gotten ahold of the bakery to schedule a tasting and pick flavors already. And I have no will to do any of it. Drained not only from constant working and illness, but also the stress of buying the New House. I really just want to be married and use this money to make the house the way we want it. Plus roommate woes that I'll not go into at this time. I've even relegated all rehearsal dinner plans to Christ's mom, something which pains me greatly. Not just the assignment of organization, but also absolving myself from payments on it. I just don't have it in me to plan -anything- else.
The aforementioned damnable hotel blocks. Searched for hotels near the aquarim and called ten or so. Got ONE person. And they said they'd email me the information to secure it and never did. All these stupid hotels are so expensive, but I don't know if I'm just a cheapskate and other people would have no problem paying $200 for a hotel. Maybe I should look for hotels further out, farther from the beach? I've no idea what's acceptable and, thus far, this is my absolute least favorite wedding task.
On a positive note, I found some shoes and got my veil stuff in. Woo.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Update.
So many things to update, hopefully I don't forget anything. Officially got engaged on 11/30 in front of the tropical fish tank in the Georgia Aquarium-- the place where I'd told him I wanted to get married two weeks after we started dating and the place we decided long ago we'd never be able to afford. It was great, though he's a bit miffed because I jokingly said no when he asked. =D The ring is gorgeous, though, with no crusties and a lovely light blue topaz stone.
We went back to Charleston to do a walk-through of the aquarium with Barrie in tow. It was fun and we came up with some great ideas. We also met up with Duvall to discuss catering and decor. They seemed a bit snooty and all the ladies were pretty and young and slender, but they have good menu options and some really cool lighting and seating options.
In other news, I got my dress in, alterations done, everything paid for and supposed to be picked up on Friday. Oops. Barrie's dress was paid for and ordered (after much hassle), and Laura's and Ashleigh's dresses are ordered and paid for. Tuesday we're heading to Men's Wearhouse to pick out tuxes and I'm waiting until closer to the date to order Megan's dress in a pointless hope that she'll have a freakish growth spurt in the next six months and the alterations needed won't cost as much as the dress itself. Also have to pick out outfits for Sophie and Matt.
The aquarium has been booked, we found a bakery to do the cakes and brownies, and found a DJ who does karaoke as well. We're going down on the 17th to do a tasting with the caterer, sign their contract, and give them a deposit for the date; take Stephanie to the aquarium so she can get a feel for the space and lighting; and meet with the DJ to secure him as well.
I found (hopefully) the origami bouquets we're going to do on etsy, I just have to contact the seller to see if she'll do a custom order for us. We're still waiting to hear back about the design and decor from Duvall, crossing our fingers that it won't be some ungodly amount.
We went back to Charleston to do a walk-through of the aquarium with Barrie in tow. It was fun and we came up with some great ideas. We also met up with Duvall to discuss catering and decor. They seemed a bit snooty and all the ladies were pretty and young and slender, but they have good menu options and some really cool lighting and seating options.
In other news, I got my dress in, alterations done, everything paid for and supposed to be picked up on Friday. Oops. Barrie's dress was paid for and ordered (after much hassle), and Laura's and Ashleigh's dresses are ordered and paid for. Tuesday we're heading to Men's Wearhouse to pick out tuxes and I'm waiting until closer to the date to order Megan's dress in a pointless hope that she'll have a freakish growth spurt in the next six months and the alterations needed won't cost as much as the dress itself. Also have to pick out outfits for Sophie and Matt.
The aquarium has been booked, we found a bakery to do the cakes and brownies, and found a DJ who does karaoke as well. We're going down on the 17th to do a tasting with the caterer, sign their contract, and give them a deposit for the date; take Stephanie to the aquarium so she can get a feel for the space and lighting; and meet with the DJ to secure him as well.
I found (hopefully) the origami bouquets we're going to do on etsy, I just have to contact the seller to see if she'll do a custom order for us. We're still waiting to hear back about the design and decor from Duvall, crossing our fingers that it won't be some ungodly amount.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Costliness
The second round at David's Bridal went incredibly well. I tried on bridesmaid dresses, too, to see how they'd look. The verdict is pretty great. So long as Barrie can keep her heaving bosom under control in her strapless dress. Took Megan in to try on the blue one. Unfortunately, she's a miniature person and is already nearly 17, so unlikely to do much growing in the next year. The alterations to make the size two top even smaller and hem the skirt are going to end up costing nearly as much as the outfit itself. But it's pretty cute.
I feel almost bad because I wound up buying a dress that the first neglectful lady had me try on, but I'd much rather the new lady get the commission for it. Now I just need to decide what I'm going to do with my hair. Trying desperately to grow it out and it's gotten easier to resist the urge to chop it all off now that I can pull it away from my face and neck in pigtails, but these bangs are going to be the death of me.
Christ called the caterer today and they quoted us about half of our budget for the sushi and pasta stations. But he said he made sure that included tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, drinks, and EVERYTHING. Plus this is where we expected to spend the most money, so I guess it's not -too- bad. I still have no idea whatsoever what we're going to do in the way of decor, but we are nearly completely committed to Edible Arrangements as centerpieces. Just have to verify with my spacey venue connection that it's kosher.
Oh, and the caterer doesn't include the cake/cupcakes, so we need to figure out what we're going to do about that. Step ever-so-graciously agreed to do our pictures for us. I'm searching fervently in short bursts for favors for the wedding party. Considering getting mother's rings for our moms, but my mom doesn't really wear jewelry and I don't know his mom's style, plus I don't know how odd it would be to give that at a wedding as opposed to on Mother's Day or at the birth of a child or something.
I feel almost bad because I wound up buying a dress that the first neglectful lady had me try on, but I'd much rather the new lady get the commission for it. Now I just need to decide what I'm going to do with my hair. Trying desperately to grow it out and it's gotten easier to resist the urge to chop it all off now that I can pull it away from my face and neck in pigtails, but these bangs are going to be the death of me.
Christ called the caterer today and they quoted us about half of our budget for the sushi and pasta stations. But he said he made sure that included tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, drinks, and EVERYTHING. Plus this is where we expected to spend the most money, so I guess it's not -too- bad. I still have no idea whatsoever what we're going to do in the way of decor, but we are nearly completely committed to Edible Arrangements as centerpieces. Just have to verify with my spacey venue connection that it's kosher.
Oh, and the caterer doesn't include the cake/cupcakes, so we need to figure out what we're going to do about that. Step ever-so-graciously agreed to do our pictures for us. I'm searching fervently in short bursts for favors for the wedding party. Considering getting mother's rings for our moms, but my mom doesn't really wear jewelry and I don't know his mom's style, plus I don't know how odd it would be to give that at a wedding as opposed to on Mother's Day or at the birth of a child or something.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Updating from work
It's been a while since I wrote here, so I figured I'd do a recap of the last six months. Christ bought a ring, a black pearl, then decided he didn't like it; thought it looked too cheap. We went to the Charleston Aquarium and decided to change the venue to there since we were too poor for the Georgia one. Haven't confirmed a date with them yet, as we keep going back and forth between getting a memorable date like 11-11-11 or 9-10-11 or something and booking for a Sunday, which would save us a little over a grand. Also it would make rehearsal dinner easier for people who work Monday-Friday.
Went to Elegant Bridals near the apartment to look at dresses and the lady gave me pause in my headstrong determination to have the kind I wanted when she put me in a dropped waist tight little number that actually looked good with a birdcage veil. But it was about eight or nine hundred dollars. Woe.
Went to Windsor Jewelers to begin the exhausting search for a ring without a single hint of diamond. Discovered the gorgeousness of blue topaz. The guy suggested just a solitaire on a plain band, but it seemed...I dunno, supercilious of the stone, all lording it over the band, whose sole purpose is to support the stone. Yes, I know. Anyway, so I found a neat twisty band, but it was positively crawling with crusty tiny diamonds. The guy said he could have it specially made for me without them for two grand. I thanked him and left. Then we went to Jared's and found a simple twisty one. But they couldn't order blue topaz. They assured me that aquamarine looked very similar and said that if we opened an account and ordered the band, they could order the stone and if we didn't like it when it came in, they'd send it back free of charge. So Christ whipped out his card and applied. And gloated for the rest of the month over how much he was approved for.
Three weeks later, he called them about it and they said it wouldn't be ready until 12/27, three months after our initial trip, when we'd been told 3-5 weeks. So I called and talked to the manager about it. He said they'd order the aquamarine -and- blue topaz and it'd be in in less than a week. They called a few days later and we went down to approve the stones. The blue topaz looked sososo much better and was almost half the price. Also! They would be able to have it mounted in the store, so we didn't have to wait until December for the band.
Went to David's Bridal with Barrie yesterday afternoon and it was TOTALLY different than my previous outings to try things on. Our lady had Barrie help me in and out of the dresses, she only brought us one or two and then sent us out to wander the store in one of them while she flitted about with other people. It wasn't even as though it was busy or anything; I dunno what she was doing. Anyway, she sent us over to the section that had my size and told us to pull whatever we wanted. When I pointed our other dresses on mannequins or in the catalog, she said that she'd show me something 'similar in [my] size', which were never very similar. She wouldn't let me try on anything else (using those handy little clamps they have) and when I asked about removing details or changing necklines and things, she just kind of dismissed it with a maybe. Didn't offer any suggestions or...anything. I mean, I don't expect to be waited on hand and foot, but seriously? When we were leaving, she suggested I look online at their website. Bluh. I bitched about it to Beth, who called the manager and complained. So I'm supposed to go back Tuesday to try again with someone else.
Christ also picked up the ring yesterday and won't let me see it. He keeps gushing about how awesome it is and showing everyone else, though. Jerk. I think I've settled on bridesmaid dresses and colors, so that's good. And flowers, too, maybe? I like tiger lillies, amaryllis, and hibiscus with blue delphiniums, maybe? I dunno, something little that's bright blue.
Went to Elegant Bridals near the apartment to look at dresses and the lady gave me pause in my headstrong determination to have the kind I wanted when she put me in a dropped waist tight little number that actually looked good with a birdcage veil. But it was about eight or nine hundred dollars. Woe.
Went to Windsor Jewelers to begin the exhausting search for a ring without a single hint of diamond. Discovered the gorgeousness of blue topaz. The guy suggested just a solitaire on a plain band, but it seemed...I dunno, supercilious of the stone, all lording it over the band, whose sole purpose is to support the stone. Yes, I know. Anyway, so I found a neat twisty band, but it was positively crawling with crusty tiny diamonds. The guy said he could have it specially made for me without them for two grand. I thanked him and left. Then we went to Jared's and found a simple twisty one. But they couldn't order blue topaz. They assured me that aquamarine looked very similar and said that if we opened an account and ordered the band, they could order the stone and if we didn't like it when it came in, they'd send it back free of charge. So Christ whipped out his card and applied. And gloated for the rest of the month over how much he was approved for.
Three weeks later, he called them about it and they said it wouldn't be ready until 12/27, three months after our initial trip, when we'd been told 3-5 weeks. So I called and talked to the manager about it. He said they'd order the aquamarine -and- blue topaz and it'd be in in less than a week. They called a few days later and we went down to approve the stones. The blue topaz looked sososo much better and was almost half the price. Also! They would be able to have it mounted in the store, so we didn't have to wait until December for the band.
Went to David's Bridal with Barrie yesterday afternoon and it was TOTALLY different than my previous outings to try things on. Our lady had Barrie help me in and out of the dresses, she only brought us one or two and then sent us out to wander the store in one of them while she flitted about with other people. It wasn't even as though it was busy or anything; I dunno what she was doing. Anyway, she sent us over to the section that had my size and told us to pull whatever we wanted. When I pointed our other dresses on mannequins or in the catalog, she said that she'd show me something 'similar in [my] size', which were never very similar. She wouldn't let me try on anything else (using those handy little clamps they have) and when I asked about removing details or changing necklines and things, she just kind of dismissed it with a maybe. Didn't offer any suggestions or...anything. I mean, I don't expect to be waited on hand and foot, but seriously? When we were leaving, she suggested I look online at their website. Bluh. I bitched about it to Beth, who called the manager and complained. So I'm supposed to go back Tuesday to try again with someone else.
Christ also picked up the ring yesterday and won't let me see it. He keeps gushing about how awesome it is and showing everyone else, though. Jerk. I think I've settled on bridesmaid dresses and colors, so that's good. And flowers, too, maybe? I like tiger lillies, amaryllis, and hibiscus with blue delphiniums, maybe? I dunno, something little that's bright blue.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Woo!
Deposit for the venue taken care of. Gotta call and find out the room dimensions to see if all the tables will adequately fit.
ETA: Also, I told Mom. She volunteered $5000. Since we're definitely not going to need all the money we've been saving plus that, we should be able to take a pretty awesome honeymoon.
ETA: Also, I told Mom. She volunteered $5000. Since we're definitely not going to need all the money we've been saving plus that, we should be able to take a pretty awesome honeymoon.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Update
So I've confirmed the venue for 10/1/11 and I'm supposed to go down and pay the deposit within ten days. The rest isn't due until the month of. Now I'm just looking for someone to make my dress since I dunno how long that's gonna take. We're not doing flowers or booze and the venue provides chairs and a few tables. So we just have to confirm what we're going to do, food-wise, and find a caterer, extra tables (maybe from Christ's church), and linens, make a final decision on centerpieces, pick someone to do the cake (well in the future), and figure out what we're going to do about music. Oh, and figure out seating stuff. Still, though, I'm patting myself on the back for being on top of things.
Telling my parents next week sometime.
Telling my parents next week sometime.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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