Time to Get Serious

Okay... so, in my very first blog entry I fessed up about my ultimate goal with this blog, to perhaps be lucky enough to be worthy of blogging on one of my favorite wedding websites EVER.

Buzz...

If I don't start putting all of my thoughts into blog form, I won't even be able to apply, so here I am!  I've neglected to post as often as I'd like to, so I'm modifying my new years resolutions to include BLOG MORE!  I even have a list going of topics I want to touch on... so at least I'm organized!

The above photo is one of the first images that came up in my Google Image search of "time to get serious" by the way.  Among the random images generated-- a few save the date photos, a wedding dress, and some rockin' bridal heels, so CLEARLY I'm not alone here... :)  

Anyone else dedicate time to a wedding blog while planning the big day?  Do you keep it on the DL or do your friends/family know?

The Year of the Wedding

Well helloooooooo 2012!!

2011 was a great year in so many ways... but 2012 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable years on the books, namely because we'll vow "to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, until death to us part" in front of our closest friends and family come October.  We've been engaged since June, so it feels great to actually be in "The Year of the Wedding" and I hope that means planning will kick into high gear.  We're making decent progress so far...

• Budget plan outlined (...still saving... and saving...)
• Rough guest list going (...so hard to figure out that A/B column)
• Church/officiant reserved (...he's very close to my fiance's family)
• Reception venue secured (...it's seriously amazing and sets the whole tone)
• Caterer contract signed (...a bit expensive, but is a package deal with the venue)
• Bridal party selected (...3 of 10 are out of state)
• Wedding dress found (...it's magical)
• Photographer contract signed (...we can't wait to work with her)

... but there is still SO much to do!

All bundled up to ring in the New Year!  Last photo of 2011 <3

At the time, I thought with such a long engagement it would feel like FOREVER before the big day finally arrived, but I'm already realizing how grateful I am for the extra time to make it all happen.  We need it!  I know the next 9 months will fly by, so here are a few of my 2012 resolutions:

• Remain focused on wedding plans and continue to chip away at them with a bit more tenacity
• Be more confident with the decisions we make & try not to second guess everything
• Get our wedding website up and ready to go
• Stay committed to eating right & making exercise a priority (...maybe I could lose that last 20lbs)
• Follow through and get some non-wedding related projects done, like organizing our apartment and clearing away the clutter (... this is a big one, as 2012 could bring about a move too)

I could go on, but perhaps putting just a few things out into cyberspace will help hold me accountable.  How is your own wedding planning going?  Does the to-do list dominate YOUR 2012 resolution list?  Here's to a great new year for all of us, especially those now in our wedding year! *cheers*

Call Me Crazy?

Okay, so... we've talked face to face with 3 potential photographers so far and while I know that each is great and talented in their own way, each has a personality we mesh well with, and each is very affordable... I still haven't had that "THIS IS IT" feeling.  So, instead of rushing the decision... I've expanded my searches, hoping to find someone who seals the deal so well, that I don't have a doubt or regret and can stop searching, feeling confident that I've picked the right person for the job.  I'm not ruling out the 3 we've chatted with... but I'm not ready to make a decision either.  Am I crazy?? I feel crazy.  I really want to make this decision and move onto the next... but I just CAN'T!

When you first jump into wedding planning, you hear all of this advice of identifying your priorities.  Deciding which things are MOST important to you AND to the man you'll soon call your husband.  Some gals want a runway worthy designer gown, others want an amazing 5 tier fondant cake with hand-painted flowers, some guys want to wear sneakers with their tuxedos... regardless these things are most important to YOU, no one else.  There is no right or wrong answer.  Once you realize what these things are, in theory, your time, resources, and potentially budget should also favor those things.

For my fiance, the most important thing to him (outside of marrying me of course) was having a guest list big enough to include his large family, throwing a FUN party with an open bar, and having his families pastor do the ceremony.  For me, it's a unique reception venue that really reflected the essence of us, amazing wedding photos to remember the day by when it's all over with, and good entertainment so everyone has a great time celebrating with us.

Accomplished so far:

• A unique venue we both fell in love with, that holds up to 200 people 
• A tentative caterer contract that includes beer, wine, and a limited open bar
• My man's family pastor is reserved (and bonus - he gets the church too - it's close to our venue!)

Next on the list is finalizing a photographer, picking a DJ, and if we think we can afford it, reserving a photo booth... which would round out BOTH of our "priority" lists.  In theory... it's a cake-walk after that right?  HA!  We'll see about that... :)

Did you have to stop and remember to focus on your priorities while planning?  Did you stretch or expand your budget to make something on the list happen?

Say Cheese!

Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you'll make along the way (I know, I know, aren't they all?!).  If I had an unlimited budget, I have a few I'd LOVE to book, but their wedding packages START in the thousands of dollars.... yes, that's plural "thousands". Unfortunately, we just don't have that kind of money to spend.


But somehow, I still want photos like this:
(of note - none of these photos are mine and use of them will not extend pass this reference)

FUN/CANDID...

CREATIVE/UNIQUE...

ROMANTIC/BEAUTIFUL...

DETAILED/PERSONAL...

I can't say that "thousands" is too expensive or that it's ridiculous to charge that much, because the truth is... talent isn't cheap and compromising on something like wedding photos that will last forever, is not an option.  But, budget dictates many things.  So... in an effort to book a good photographer without breaking the bank, we're trying something a little different and it's called "calculated risk", haha.  We have two options of "budding photographers" who are interested in the wedding business, but who only have a wedding or two under their belt and no real portfolio to share.  One is a guy I work with, the other gal is a friend of a friend.  Our third and strongest option, is a professional... but someone who keeps a "normal" day job during the week and maintains low wedding package pricing on the weekends because it's a self-described "hobby" not a necessary income source.  There's also a potential fourth option, through a family connection.... but I'm not sure we'll consider that one seriously.

• Option 1 - E at $1,000 negotiable (unlimited coverage)
• Option 2 - LA at $425 (wedding & engagement, unlimited coverage + rehearsal)
• Option 3 - R at $875 (bonus engagement session, 7 hours coverage)
• Option 4 - J at $695 (family discount, we'd get the bronze pkg for the lowest price)

R has this quote at the bottom of his website, which I LOVE:  "It is one thing to photograph people.  It is another to make other care about them by revealing the core of their humanness" ~Paul Strands~

Now, future hubs and I are reasonable people, we know that we can't get the best of the best on our budget.  But we DO know, that we don't want to compromise so much that our wedding pictures don't stand out from the rest.  We want the photos to feel as special as we did that day.  So far, we have met with E and LA... we'll be meeting with R this coming weekend.  We hope to feel confident enough to make a decision after that!  I'll keep you updated!

There are SO many options out there, how did you go about narrowing down your search for a wedding photographer within your budget?

Allow myself to introduce... myself

Yea, that's right.... I quoted Austin Powers in the first 5 words of my new blog.  I couldn't resist... :)

As you've probably already guessed... I'm a blushing bride!  We've been engaged since June 4th, so about 4 months now... and we'll be getting married in October 2012, so just 11 months left to make it all happen!  Somewhere between researching for my own wedding and drooling over everyone else's... I fell in love with a site called Weddingbee.  The bloggers are down-to-earth brides going through the same phases as I am or newly wedded Mrs's sharing the details about their big day and I just LOVE the whole web-based community.

That being said... my motivation behind this personal blog, is to perhaps have a chance to be part of the hive.  So there you go, my ulterior motive!!  Honesty IS the best policy, right!?  Though that's the ultimate goal... along the way, I aim to document the highs and lows of the planning process with full honesty.  Honesty with myself and with my audience, though they'll intentionally remain unknown.  I want to be able to talk about the dress and the details of the day without my closest friends or Aunt Bertha or my co-workers knowing my inner most thoughts.  I want the majority of our guests to be left in the dark until that day... so they're seeing each personal detail we've added for the very first time.

So, reader... if you're even there... buckle your seat belt and join me for the ride of a lifetime!