Hair Flower

This is pretty much the hairstyle I would want for my dream beach wedding in Cancun/Bahamas/Some tropical place:

And despite me never having an urge to wear a flower in my hair, I totally would with that style.

So now I'm thinking that I probably won't do the casual flower hair style...But I am thinking that since my girls are going to be a solid or mostly solid black dress with hot pink accents, that I can have them wear hot pink flowers in their hair.




Anenome Hair Flower





Another idea




Another Idea





Crystal Hot Pink Wild Magnolia Hair Clip

David's Bridal Dresses for me

I have an appointment set for Saturday, November 21st with David's Bridal in Albany (2 hours away)
Now I am getting nervous that I am not going to be able to find a dress for myself that I will fall in Love with.
Granted last weekend was the only time I ever tried any dresses on...And I totally tried less than 10 dresses on.

I know I want lots of bling on my dress...Nothing overwhelming of course. But I totally want to sparkle on top and bottom and the train...I do want a decently long train.
It would also be awesome if it could have a corset tie in the back.

The mermaid and fit to flair look good on me, but I don't feel like a bride in them...So I am thinking I need more of an A-Line or ball gown type dress.

I am not against going away from strapless gowns...I planed on trying on a halter but just seemed to only try on strapless and just one with slight straps.

Oh and for some odd reason I realllyyyy dislike buttons on the back...Especially going down through the train.


So since I am home sick in bed all day, and can't go out and do any wedding things anyway...I have been glued to David's Bridal's website, trying to find a dress I like.

So here are a couple of dresses from David's Bridal that I like...But I obviously don't know how they will look on me without trying them on:




Strapless Satin Ballgown

I don't always like all those pick-ups.



Draped Satin Bodice
The only problem is that I can't see what the bottom front looks like...I tried on a gorgeous dress last weekend that I would have loved but there was no design or anything on the front bottom...And they said they couldn't add anything to it. Thus I discovered that it was too plain for me.




Tulle over satin ballgown

I can't tell if it sparkles enough or not.




Satin Corset Ball Gown
I can't tell if it sparkles enough and if the train is long enough...But it ties in the back! :)



Satin halter A-line gown

I don't know if it sparkles, but I enjoy the lace.



Satin A-Line with Beaded Lace Corset

Looks good from the picture.

Desserts/Candy Table

I am 100% Italian...I am used to having too much food and desserts at every event...Including nightly dinner.

When I presented Jon with the idea of having additional desserts at the reception, Jon said it would be a waste of money and that we will have the wedding cake and don't need anything else.

As much as my budget-conscious side agrees with that statement, my creativity and Italian side does not.

Thus I continued to be creative with different dessert ideas.

This is as close to a visual on my idea of Black & Whites with our last name initial in pink as I could come. Come on, that looks just like pink frosting! ;)

Or it looks like I am back to making mock-ups in Paint.

And don't forget my Rainbow Cookie in my wedding colors idea!

So what if instead of that...

The colors were more like this:

Or like this:

I don't think I would want one of the cakey layers to be black, because black is such a hard color to dye...No matter how much black food coloring I use, it always looks purple. So I think we can stick with the outer chocolate layers being enough 'black color'.

Other dessert ideas I had included dipping pretzels (the real twisted pretzel shaped ones, not rods) in white and dark (assuming that would make a better 'black' color than milk chocolate would) chocolate and then adding pink sprinkles.
I really love that idea for favors and then include a tag that says "Thanks for helping us tie the knot!"

Another idea was having white and dark chocolate dipped strawberries with pink sprinkles.

White Chocolate Strawberries with hot pink and magenta edible glitter

Or Wedding Chocolate Truffles

And then another idea was forgetting the dessert table and doing the trendy Candy Buffet table instead.

I am sure we could easily find black, white, and pink candies to adorn the table.

And then have to-go boxes for guests to fill up with their desired candy, and take home as a favor. Instead of us putting favors together with candy that the guests may or may not like.

Also, when preparing to make candy for my bridesmaids, I bought every kind of wedding candy molds that Wilton makes. So that is another thing I can make for either a dessert table or a candy buffet table. As long as it isn't too warm out and the candy melts.

I can make these candies in any color.

I can also make these candies in any color...And I can make them into lollipops too.

I also have these...But haven't tried them out yet. They look like just candy...But really, they are candy covered Oreos! How cool is that to be able to make a candy coated (in any color) Oreo?!?! Well they look like Oreos would work best with them at least. And I thought that they were too cute to pass up. I need to try them out one of these days.

I don't own these...

...Or these...But I can easily buy them, and they could work too...Unless I was definitely going to make my other pretzel idea, then that would be too many pretzels.

I just had to post this idea of desserts and candies because my creative brain comes up with so many ideas that I can't keep up! So I needed to document it so I could remember my ideas better. :)

Of course we can always use any of these ideas for the Engagement Party (if we have one) instead of the Reception, too.

MY DAMASK FABRIC!

I have been doing research for a while now on where to find the best deals on damask fabric.

The consensus among fellow damask brides was that damask fabric was damn near impossible to find in person and thus you must order it online...The popular vote was to get your fabric for $6.98/yard via Warehouse Fabrics.


This is the pattern I picked out from their site that I loved the most:



Traditions Black & White Damask


By the time you factor in tax and shipping costs, the fabric was going to end up costing me an arm and a leg!
So I thought it was about time I find a use for etsy...Since I seem to be the only bride who isn't obsessed with that site!

A quick search on that site, and lo and behold, SEVERAL sellers willing to custom make my table runners in the black and white traditions damask fabric with a fuchsia border!
Some of the sellers were reasonably priced...Others were a bit more extravagant.

I decided that I should check my local stores to double check that they do not sell damask fabric. And if they do sell it, I need to see the costs per yard...Plus factor into it all of the labor and time on my part...I am quite crafty, but not a great sewer. So I began to wonder if it would be better to have one of these more professional etsy sellers make my runners.


Well, Jon and I had today off from work and we went to Joann's Fabrics to look for our damask fabric (Read: "Jon and I had to do some errands, and since we happened to be near Joann's Fabrics, I brought him in kicking in screaming to find the damask fabric I want.")



I found an extremely similar fabric, but I guess not 100% exact:



But I still love it!

AND it is usually $9.99/yard but was on sale for $6.99/yard!!
My Mom had a coupon that I could use on top of the sale price...But I didn't have the coupon with me. So I decided to just grab 3 yards of the fabric while it was on sale.
And I can play with this and see if I can even make a decent looking table runner or not...If so, then I can go back and buy more fabric. Especially now that I know that it exists.
Also, they didn't have nearly enough fabric in the store today...But the lady said they can order more for me. So that's good.


So for 3 yards of fabric WITH tax (and no shipping, yay!) the total came to $22.81

I don't know the width of the fabric...But I know that it is much wider than the runners will be.
I also am not positive of the table sizes at our venue...So we might need more than 3 yards a runner...Or we might need less. I don't know.

But let's just say hypothetically that 3 yards a runner is what we will need...And the width can be cut in half...So we can make 2 runners out of every 3 yards of fabric (2 runners for $22.81 not counting the cost of the outlining ribbon)

And if 8 people sit at a table and we have 150 guests...That's 18.75 tables. So say 19 tables...Or maybe make that 20 so we have one for the cake table.

And if $22.81 makes 2 runners than we need to divide 20 by 2...Which equals 10

And 10 x $22.81 = $228.10

Sooooo 20 runners will equal about $230...Give or take a few dollars based on possible coupons and ribbon costs.

I don't think that is horrible...The average etsy prices were over $200...

But I guess that is an unnecessary wedding cost...But it totally completes my dream vision.

PLUS when I brought the fabric to show my Grandma, an 87 year old who worked as a seamstress practically her whole life, totally volunteered to make all of my runners.
And my ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket...And whatever other projects I decide to use this fabric for.
So that makes me really excited.

And now I feel like even if any etsy seller could be cheaper, that Gramma might get insulted that I didn't think she would do a good job or something.
I think this will be a great personalization for the wedding. And it will be sentimental that Gramma took so much time to do it for us.

We have a little over 9 months until the wedding...So if we get started soon, she can have a nice relaxed pace and take her time making them...Instead of making her feel rushed and stressed.

So once I get the table measurements from the venue, I should go back and get more fabric while it is on sale...Or make sure they order more for me, so we have plenty of time for it to come in.
Because I can totally see them like discontinuing the fabric or something before I have bought everything I need. And that would suck big time.

Another Favor Idea

I had another favor or dessert idea that will play off my 'black and white' theme nicely.

What if I get Black & White Cookies...And put frosting "H"s on them?!

Of course they have to be the good cookies I am used to from Long Island (my home!) or New York City. None of this Half Moon crap that they make up here in Central NY. :-P

"There is some confusion as to the origin of the black-and-white cookie and the sometimes synonymous name Half-Moon. The name Half-Moon is common in Upstate New York and New England. In New York City, however, one will find only Black and Whites. However, while the two names are often used interchangeably, there may actually be considerable differences between the two, most notably in the textures of the base and the icing.

Half-Moons originated in Utica, New York at the famous Hemstrought's Bakery in the early part of the 20th century. Half-Moons most often come with a chocolate cake base, dark fudge icing on one side and sugary white frosting for the "half moon" side.

Black and Whites have a drier, cookie-like base and fondant frosting."

So in conclusion, Half Moons are more cakey with regular cake type frosting on them...And Black & Whites have harder frosting and are way more delicious! :)

That is a Black & White (Sooooo good!)

This is a Half Moon (Not terrible, but not nearly as good!)

So yeah, just another cute idea for my black/white/and subtle pink idea. :)

Quiz Time!

I thought I would do a little de-stressing with some fun (hopefully fun) wedding-related quizzes! :)



Quiz: Are You a Bridezilla?

Yay! According to this quiz I'm not a Bridezilla (but close)

Find Your Wedding Cake Style

Not my dream cake, but not horrible.

Quiz: Which Wedding Colors Best Suit Your Style?

Yay! It says, "Fuchsia!" Hehe

Wedding Hairstyle Quiz - Wedding Quiz - What's Your Best Bridal Hairstyle - By TheKnot.com

I wish it would have shown a picture or two to go with my result.

Quiz: What kind of groom is he?

OK...I guess that's not a bad result.

Honeymoon Quiz - Honeymoon Quiz - What's Your Ideal Honeymoon - By TheKnot.com

WORKS FOR ME! :)

Escort Card Holders & Table Linens

Remember my love for the Blume Bud Escort Card Holders?

I found some more pictures of other brides using them...And it makes me love them even more!

They are so elegant and classy, right?

I just haven't totally decided what kind of flower (or lucky bamboo) I would put in each vase.

Of course the down side is, I don't know how many times they can be re-used. Like say, a mini picture frame holding the escort card can then be used again to hold a picture.

Especially since I am in love with the photo booth idea again.

I had talked myself out of it for a while...But am loving it again. (Especially since they have had them at 2 of the bridal shows I have been to...And now I'm in love with them again!)

On another note...I have made a mock-up of how I am pretty sure I want my table linens to look:

I didn't really draw the chair covers in...But white chairs kind of gives you the illusion of white chair covers.

With fuchsia chair sashes and bows.

And a black table cloth with white napkins.

And the black and white damask table runner outlined in fuchsia.

And then of course some kind of centerpiece that incorporates fuchsia.

I think I did well not making the hot pink the sole color.

I didn't even use shades of pink like I could have.

I am totally trying to go more sophisticated and elegant than sweet 16.

Hence why my original thought of hot pink napkins have been replaced with white napkins.

PS Try not to mock my mock-up! I made it in about 5 seconds in Paint! :-P

Weekend Update!

Friday Night my cousin, and one of my bridesmaids, came up from Staten Island for a visit. On Saturday, my Gramma, my Mom, my cousin, another bridesmaid, and I went to 4 different dress shops (would have been 5 but they changed their hours, so we got their after they closed). My 3'rd Bridesmaid came down with the flu and couldn't come...And my sister (my MOH) had to work and only made it to one of the stores.

I have narrowed down my favorite Bridesmaid Dresses to two top choices.

I hadn't really planned on trying any gowns on for myself. But while we were at the shops, I tried a couple on.

I now have a better idea of what looks good and bad for my body and height.

I also now know that if the dress doesn't have very much sparkle or bling...I apparently don't like it on me.

I tried on some styles that I never imagined liking...Such as the Mermaid...And it surprisingly looked good on me.

But I learned that I seem to love the ballgown styles the best. AND not every poofy dress looks like it is eating all 5 feet of me! :) So that's exciting. I just don't know how I am going to be able to pick just ONE dress!!

So we hit up all of the local shops on Saturday that we wanted to accomplish...Minus the 5th that was closed.

My Mom is trying to plan a trip to a big bridal store that is like 2 1/2 hours away. We want to do it before December and snow. She decided that we should give my girls this weekend off from dresses...And plan our trip instead for November 21st. Jon's Mom is going to try to meet us there, too!

On a different note...I went to my third Bridal Show yesterday. I didn't win anything, but it was still fun.

The weather outside was uncharacteristically gorgeous!!

It would have been PERFECT for some outdoor Engagement Photos.

Forget the turning leaf photos, because that is over.

Plus I really wanted Fall Engagement Photos more when I thought our wedding would be in the fall. But now that our wedding is technically the Summer, I don't really care what weather our Engagement Photos are in.

But by the time I got home from the Bridal Show...And would have had Jon and my friend who is taking our pictures, meet me at my parent's house (it was nice and sunny out, and my parent's have a GORGEOUS view!) the sun would have went in.

So we are probably going to end up doing indoor photos at the train station in Utica.

It sounds strange to me...But it is a VERY popular location for wedding photos.

The train station is actually quite beautiful.

And now I have to stress over what to wear in the photographs.

If we ended up doing them outside yesterday, I would have just worn jeans and my black pea coat and maybe a cute scarf.

But for indoor photos, I am thinking I need a cute skirt or dress or something.

OK So maybe need isn't the correct word...Just more like really want.

So hopefully we can get that done this weekend.

Escort Card Holder/Favor Possibility

Originally I wanted some kind of picture frame as the escort card holder. I thought it would be nice to have the escort card holder double as a favor (whether that be the only favor or just an additional favor.) I also thought a picture frame would be cute since we might have a photo booth at the reception too.

I have been trying to find some really cheap mini frames that I could some how decorate to match the theme. Either by wrapping the borders with my fabric or just adding a hot pink flower or something.

But then I came across these:

They are kind of cute, right?

They are definitely escort card holders AND favors.

AND I can get black ones for the guys and pink ones for the girls...And with about 150 of these babies on the escort card table, I think it would make a pretty black and pink and flowery scene.

Of course I don't know what flower to put in the 'vase' (which is actually glass, and not plastic like I thought it was!) I wonder if I can put a tiny bamboo stalk in each 'vase'...Then it can match my {possible}bamboo centerpieces.

Of course, flowers die...Thus the guests will have to throw out their favor eventually...But how long does everyone keep the little knick-knack favors that sit and collect dust anyway?

Of course if we do bamboo, we should probably tie a little note to each vile with instructions for lucky bamboo care...Which can also double as assistance for anyone who takes home the {possible} bamboo centerpiece...Since I was worried people wouldn't know how to care for it (Granted, they could always just Google it.)

So I see that the test tube vase comes with the card holder...But the cards probably don't come with...Which is fine.

Also, on further inspection, the patterns to chose from (which is only on the inside anyway) are: orange chain link, mocha birds, passion pink damask, silver damask, lime slice birds, red burst damask, pretty-n-pink damask, black & white birds, and gold damask.

So I can always get the hot pink damask and the black birds and hope that no one notices the birds. OR I can just get all pink and make the escort cards have my black and white damask pattern with hot pink writing for their names and table numbers.

WEDDING!!

Maybe one of these days I will sit and post about about all of the trials and tribulations that went in to Jon and I picking our wedding venue and ceremony sites.

But for now I will just say that we finally decided on the venue that we fell in love with on one of our appointments a few weeks ago. It is perfect. And the date we liked best from what they had available is August 21, 2010.

I called the Church and booked us for a ceremony on that day as well.

We decided on 5pm...But maybe we should change it to earlier...We haven't decided on the time the reception will start yet.

We bring our deposit to the reception venue on Saturday.

So there it is.

Jon and I will be getting married on August, 21, 2010.

Our first biggest and hardest wedding decision done and out of the way.

I must admit that I feel like a huge weight has been lifted...But I am sure it will soon be replaced by some new stressful wedding decision.

And now the countdown begins.

Only 291 days to go! :)

Searching for bargains...

I had the idea that maybe I should look for random items on sale, that could maybe be put together for centerpieces...Instead of just looking at the traditional 'wedding centerpiece' places.

I especially thought if I got some ideas now, then I could do some Black Friday shopping in a few weeks for some really good deals.

Here are some random (and not at all any of my original centerpiece ideas) items that I have come across so far:

Despite this not being my exact pattern, if these came in white with the design in black, instead of gold and brown, I would so totally consider using them.

If anyone is interested, Kohl's currently has the 4" candle on sale from $9.99 to $4.99, and the 6" candle on sale from $12.99 to $6.49

OK so this is red, not pink...But I still think the set is really adorable.

Plus I have always loved the whole "All because two people fell in Love" quote.

Kohl's currently has this set on sale for $12.49 from $24.99

OK So these (for the same sales price as the previous similar set) are less weddingy, but still cute...Have the word "Love"...AND are the correct black and white colors. :)

"Always Kiss Me Good Night" On sale for only $4.95 from $7.95!!

Another quote that I have always loved seeing on decor...And this one is actually an inside joke between Jon and myself.

Maybe I can make some kind of sign for decoration using my fabric for the background, and hot pink letters. :)

LIttle bit of this, little bit of that...

Flower Girl Dress for my black and white theme...Alfred Angelo has done it again! :)



OK So maybe this is a little too cartoony or babyish...But I think this is really unique and cute:


Cute STD, no?
I wonder if we can steal this idea and use our actual pictures...And maybe my color theme for the background...



And here is my color theme...Yay! :)