Bridal Shower...I'm terrible at surprises

I so do love surprises.

However, I still manage to find out all the little details just-so-I-know... Oh well. There's bound to be surprises (especially during the Bachelorette party) that I would never anticipate happening.

So here's the best detail I figured out about the Bridal Shower.

Krissypoo Bakes4U Bakery (name pending) is catering the Cake (CUPCAKES)

Margarita

Mexican Hot Chocolate

And either Vanilla Honey Lavender OR Vanilla Chai of some sort?

Here's some of Her AMAZING work. Can you believe she doesn't have a shop?

It will be in a private room for brunch at a nicer restaurant (I know the name but I don't want my blog readers to come find me, I love you all but there just isn't room)

Also, for the reception we are thinking to code tables rather than by "table 6" or what have you, as species of trees (yay!) or something. I like the botanical/scientific drawing style and they will be in frames at the tables. sort of images like these:

And finally, I think if I can I will have the string quartet play this song after our vows or something: (it's the song that plays at the end of Pride and Prejudice as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy walk toward eachother in recognition at the end! eeeeee happy!)

Modern and ShabbyChic Touches: Reception

I've got some more goodies to share!

When I get to the Art Center (a very modern, clean building) I will no longer be wearing my super-long fancy veil for the dance etc, but instead a hassle-free short and fabulous birdcage veil!

I'm making it myself, of course.

Also, my mom found this FABULOUS way to assign tables...a vintage frame window

And when you're seated, waiting for you is a way to feed your own lovebirds at home!?

More to come!

All the best,

J

Our last night in Athens, Greece

Links to the Hotel Websites, in order of stay.

3 Nights in Athens

http://www.royalolympic.com/index.php

3 Nights in Santorini
http://www.imerovigli-hotels.com/santorini-greece.html

3 Nights in Mykonos
http://www.petinosbeach.gr/index.php?ID=hotel_photos

1 Night in Athens
http://www.electrahotels.gr/electra-palace-athens/index.html

My last post about accommodations for awhile, I think.



Also, did I mention the tubs are GOLD??
Holy Tiles Batman!

Petinos Beach

Located on the island of Mykonos.

GOSH I AM SO EXCITED!!

The Island of Santorini

Lovely. Just, Lovely.

And this my friends, is why we chose Greece. (Athens)

The next few blogs will all just be gratuitous photos of the ACTUAL places Russ and I will be staying in Greece.

Starting with Athens (3 nights, + one night before flight home)

Cake, and more

Our cake will be similar, but the colors will be much less fall-like, green leaves and acorns with blue flowers. The main color is ivory/tan and the tiers (4) will be square!

It's hip to be square!

Veil is something like this: (no dress images, that remains a surprise, especially because Russ reads this :] )

Something like this for the 2-yr-old flower girl (she won't be carrying the flower ball with the rings--too young!)

Finally, an update!

Selections for the big day:

Ceremony - String quartet in the Plummer House lower Garden in Rochester

Reception - Drinks, Dinner, and Dancing at the Rochester Art Center, Daube's cake, Catering by Design, and a DJ.

Decorations By me and mom

Flowers by Le Jardin

Flower girl dresses: at David's Bridal

Classy and Woodsy stuff

Here is what I think I want the ringbearer to carry the rings in, a little handcarved wooden box!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45689071/rustic-ring-boxfrom-reclaimed-wood?ref=sr_gallery_30&ga_search_query=wooden+ring+box&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Also, Russell and I plan to try this place and the next for possible caterers:

Catering By Design

http://www.cateringbydesign.org/

Or sontes...

http://www.sontes.com/

Also, for honeymoon, we are hoping to convince my in-laws-to-be that Greece is safe enough, especially the islands.

D-U-N DONE!

picked and bought bridesmaids dresses! Mother will fit them TO the girls when there's time!!

And the best part is they only cost $22 bucks!!

That leaves money within budget to still get cute little boleros or shrugs or something.

Plus, nice BLING!!

It's for real now folks...

So planning (as I was quite sure of) wasn't in vain! Russell asked me to marry him this may day 2010! I am really happier than I can express in words. So I'll just post pictures of the ring. :)

I know it's lo-quality and the same as my BB upload to facebook, but oh well. I really love the momentousness of when this photo was taken.

On to the planning stuff that's not so braggy. I got the hold on the art center reception area so that is en mode to GO and win

I wrote to all my bridesmaids and hopefully made it clear: NO MALE STRIPPERS. Or any strippers period! they are funny, but not classy. I want to drink and have fun with my girls a few nights before the wedding as the last big blowout with my girls as a 'single' woman, but I respect Russ for refusing them even as a stereotypical expectation, and I love him so much that I refuse to do anything but the same. When I decided to love him, I decided not to even participate in the grunginess that is any other man, especially 'private dancers'. Haha I will admit the thought is funny, but always at someone else's sake. and I do NOT want to be the entertainment in that sense.

Ok, rant over. Now, some pictures of fun stuff to lighten the mood.

LOVE LOVE LOVE these 'poms' by My Silly Bear on etsy

Shoe Gems "Something blue" by FairyTaleEvents

or for the hair or bridesmaid accessories....

for the ringbearer?

all found on etsy. too lazy to link them right now.

Love.

Jen

My Etsy

LOVE Ann Taylor

These dresses are IDEAL!!

One problem: price tag is in the $350 range. ew. The third one is about $180 which I still feel is too high.

Ugh.

Bridesmaid ideas continued...

To add a wedding-y touch that they can remove later from the dresses for later wear and their own purposes-- a little floral belt/sash? Adorable! an example below, also from gardensofwhimsy on etsy.

Here's how it looks...BTW which is better, the olive or clover colored dresses? I'm leaning toward the style and color of the one on the far left below:

Hairpiece obsession

I keep coming across adorable hair accessories like these by GardensOfWhimsy on etsy. I AM OBSESSED with "putting lots of random crap in my hair" to quote one of my best girlfriends. It is my inner hippie sneaking out. So, this with a traditional veil, or with a long sheer peice and a birdcage veil? or what? I really like the little hydrangea one a LOT. (the first image)

And...a green option!

I think if I did go green for the bridesmaid's dresses, they would be more olive (darker green) as that is more flattering and useful than clover or kelly green.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=3001604&currentIdx=43&subCategory=-49998976%257c3001465%257c3001604&catentryId=6097106&sort=

Bridesmaids...But they're my friends!

The hardest thing for me is deciding what will affect the OTHER people involved with my wedding, (i.e. the groom, the groomsmen, parents, etc).

Specifically, my closest girlfriends who are all rather particular about clothes and I do NOT want to force them to buy something they will never wear again. Which seems inevitable.

So, here's the choices:

-Hand them all a paint strip and say: "Pick any knee/tea length dress from this color scheme"

PROS: They can find a dress in their budget and to their tastes.

CONS: Motley Crew for bridesmaids, unkempt photos.

-Register somewhere like David's Bridal, where there is ONE specific color and many styles.

PROS: LOTS OF CONTROL FOR A CONTROL FREAK BRIDE

CONS: Cookie-cutter bridesmaids that spent too much on semi-formal dresses that would never pass for anything other than a wedding-party dress.

Pick ONE color and ONE style at a bridal shop, and stick to my guns.

PROS: No wishy-washy business of evaluating the individual girl's picks of dresses by phone, email, etc.

CONS: Have to pick a color and style that I am completely sure will suit all for body shape, price, future wear, and flattering colors, etc etc etc

For the last option, I came up with this so far:

Dark brown "Mocha" or "truffle" dresses about knee length.

The dark color makes it very re-wearable.

Strapless though, could be a little sloppy after a few glasses of champagne....

So maybe, add spaghetti straps? or choose something like this....the bubble may be a little too trendy though.

Opinions, please!

Last Post of the First Day

Sorry, I just HAD to get all my ideas out there!

Here is the color palette I like in the form of Bazzill Cardstocks (GREAT sturdy paper for card-making).

The paper company also owns Basic Grey, a paper and textile company which currently features Fabric Birds on their homepage!!!

Can you tell me who made this bird?

This is ideal!

I can't figure out which etsy seller made these!? Guess I'll just have to make my own...

A cute wittle birdy who needs a mate so she can sit atop my cake and/or centerpieces!

Location, Location, Location

The biggest issue for me is:

To Marry outdoors or Not to marry outdoors?

Either way, I want the reception to be here:

Rochester Art Center (Minnesota)

Guests can enjoy all the art and culture in addition to the wedding festivities.

Bonus: it's in my and my honey's hometown, next to the lake/river and lots of open space and views of the outdoors/greenery.