When I started planning our wedding, I had this idea that it would be 1,2,3 and Done. What was I thinking? I can't even decide on what colors I want to use. ~L~ The very first thing we did, was pick a date that we could both agree on. Michael's suggestion was next week, but I needed a little bit more planning time. :) So we decided on October 30, 1999. We tried for Halloween, but the dates didn't work out. Unfortunately, I had a car wreck and the wedding has been postponed for a year. Fortunately, it gave me time to get this page going. ~S~ Now I will be able to take you step by step through my wedding process. If I remember to work on this page and get fitted for my dress. First step is done, we set the date. The next step, according to all my sources is to research, research, research. My advice is to start a Wedding Notebook to keep track of all the notes and color swatches and pictures you will inevitably acquire. I have a huge binder filled with ideas and pictures that I would be lost without. The first thing I put in it? A wedding planner that I got on-line. (See my links page!) It is good to set up a calendar of some sort to keep you ontrack and help you remember all the little things (like bridesmaids gifts) that may get overlooked. It will help to keep you focused too. Especially if you are easily sidetracked like I am. Oh a butterfly . . .
A few hours later. . .
Okay I'm back. ~S~ Where was I? Oh yes, staying on track. I am still in the research stage right now, so I don't have a lot of sage advice to pass on. I do have one piece of advice, actually it's an opinion really. Don't blow your budget on invitations. They are lovely, but they look the same in the attic or garbage which is where most will end up. I bring this up, because I was recently looking at the outrageous prices these pretty little pieces of paper have. I have better things for that money to go to. Which brings me to another important subject...the budget. Set this up carefully and try to stick to the plan. A fairy tale wedding is not worth becomng a pauper for. Don't be surprised if you go over the budget, just don't go to far. ~G~ It is great to have guidelines. I guess that my most important piece of advice right now would be not to panic. Plan each step and write everything down. And enjoy it!! After all, your wedding only happens once. ;)
10.16.99
Just to let everyone know, I won't be updating this page until after the first of the year. I have a lot of non wedding stuff going on right now. I promise that I will bring everything up to date soon though. Thanks for being patient! :)
10.27.99
Brainstorm! We are having our wedding and reception at a Victorian mansion turned museum. The Fowler House if you live in Lafayette. It is absolutely lovely and has the most gorgeous tired back porch and a huge granite fireplace in one of the rooms. The best part is the price. $75.00 and hour. I was floored. We cover the clean up ourselves, but with the money I am saving that will be no problem. My problem now is the date. Fall was ideal, but that porch has made me think of making it an earlier time. It's a lot of planning to cover so I need to decide soon. If you have not looked before, you may try museums, art gallerys and gardens for your wedding and/or reception. The cost is usually less but the atmosphere is through the roof.
The other stroke of genius came from running into a wall regarding my dress. It is a lovely hand beaded sheath that has a slight train, no crinoline or stiff petticoats. Every shop said that it was "too soft" and they didn't carry anything like it. Finding the price from the designer proved to be futile and so I had almost given up when my wonderful husband to be suggested a seamstress. I knew I loved that man ~S~ I have yet to check out the prices, but I will let you know how they compare when I do. I expect they will be a bit higher, but isn't it worth it?
2.28.00
