Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Zero to Honeymoon

Long story short - Mr. B and I planned on going to Australia for our honeymoon.  He has a lot of Delta Skymiles and Marriott points, making what would normally be an unreasonable dream a bit more reasonable.  We wanted to go for two weeks to really get the most out of our long journey.  Unfortunately, circumstances have created a situation where taking two weeks off right after our wedding will not work.  We didn't want to postpone our honeymoon, though, so this past Saturday night we realized we needed a new plan.  It took three days and an unreasonable amount of time on TripAdvisor but what we were left with is perfect. 

Image via Scrub Island Resort
That, my friends, is Scrub Island-a small island oasis just off Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. 

Image via Scrub Island Resort
We will spend two nights in a gorgeous oceanfront suite, just soaking up the rays, getting massages, and unwinding from life.

Image via Scrub Island

Image via Scrub Island Resort
From there we will head two the Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas for a bit more action. 

Image via Ritz-Carlton

Image via Ritz-Carlton
 We are staying in an oceanfront suite that will (hopefully) look like this:
 
Image via Ritz-Carlton
We plan on relaxing a bit more but also seeing some sights and exploring St. Thomas.  Any suggestions on what to do while we are there?

The only negative about the situation is how you get to Scrub Island.  Here is what the Monday after our wedding will look like:

7:45AM - Fly from Savannah to Atlanta
10:00 AM - Fly from Atlanta to St. Thomas
Cab from St. Thomas Airport to ferry station
Ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola
Cab from Tortola ferry station to private dock
Private boat (provided by resort) to Scrub Island
(Insert cocktail here)

Eek, just looking at that makes me a little anxious.  I know it will all be worth it, though!  So there we have it!  Has anyone else been to Scrub Island?  St. Thomas?  Suggestions?

Monday, June 24, 2013

First Dance

Feel free to play along at any point:

I have been thinking about our first dance since before we were even engaged.  I would hear a random (Al Green?) song and think, "This could be it!"  I had quite a few in mind until one day our first dance picked us. 

Mr. B and I were driving on I-10--I can't remember where we were coming from but we were heading east on our way back to Tallahassee.  He was driving and I was using that opportunity to scout for venues.  I looked through photographers' website and videographers' videos.  I stumbled upon a video that made both of us have this moment where we just looked at each other and knew--the song playing on the video would be our first dance: Ben Rector, "White Dress."  (I wish I could find that video but I can't seem to track it down--sorry!)

This song is perfect for a number of reasons.  First, we love how unexpected it is--not your average song or even your average tempo.  It will be fun instead of awkward (hopefully). 

Second, the lyrics strike a chord with us:

I never knew that I could love someone the way that I love you.
I never knew that I could love someone the way that I love you.
I never knew, I never knew.

Last summer Mr. B, his children (A and M), and I went to Fairhope, Alabama for a week.  Throughout that trip when A would make a mistake or spill something she would say, "I never knew it was full!"  Or, "I never even knew that was in there!"  It was really cute and it has become a running joke with the four of us.  The lyrics of this song not only express how we feel but they also bring in a special memory and a bit of an inside joke.

When we first discovered and downloaded the song we would listen to it often, which resulted in a self-imposed rule of not being allowed to listen to it more than once a month.  Of course I have listened to it somewhere along the lines of 20 times while writing this but let's not count those, OK? 

Our plan is to dance the first verse and chorus alone and then have the DJ ask everyone who wants to come join us.  This will also provide a good opportunity for the DJ to speak over some not ideal lyrics:

She's coming on Friday
And then the clothes fall off. 

Although I am quite confident my 93 year old grandmother will not understand the lyrics anyway, I don't want to risk it.

So there you have it - the story of how our first dance picked us.  Did anyone else have a similar experience?  Anyone else have to distract from lyrics?

Friday, June 21, 2013

Invitation Reveal! (Not Really)

I cannot show you our entire invitation suite until our guests have received them but I am too excited to keep from sharing a little preview.

The other day I went to Karmanos Printing and Graphics and was handed this beauty:
For ME?! / Personal photo
Amanda at Karmanos has been so wonderful every step of the way and this gorgeous box was just the icing on the cake.  I gave her my inspiration and we tweaked it from there.
My inspiration / Image via LUNALUX
After a few samples and design changes, we ended up with what is inside the box.
Personal photo
Eee!  I am so excited!  I will do a big reveal after RSVPs start rolling in but I wanted to share at least a little bit of my excitement with you guys.

Now comes the hard part - I am teaching myself calligraphy to address our invitations.  I don't know if this is the worst decision I have made during this process, but it is certainly in the running.  I wanted to take a class but none of the craft stores seem to offer them, so I bought a book--The Calligrapher's Bible: 100 Complete Alphabets and How to Draw Them.  It became evident quickly that these people are really into calligraphy.  The fonts are in chronological order and there is a history of each one.  It took me a while to decide which I would choose but eventually I settled on Italian hand Copperplate (lowercase) and Copperplate capitals. 

I am at the very early stages of my self-teaching but this is what I've done so far:
Personal photo

Personal photo

Personal photo
My technique is to trace the letter over my book two or three times and then draw it on my own.  This alphabet lends itself to combining letters in a word and once I am more comfortable I will try to string a few letters together. 

Luckily I have plenty of time between now and the end of August, which is when I hope to send my invitations.  Hah, I say that now - check in with me in August. 

I promise to share my entire invitation suite just after Labor Day so sit tight.  Did anyone else teach themself calligraphy?  Does anyone have tips?  Am I nuts?  (Don't answer that.)

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Traditions (For Us) to Lose

As I mentioned before, we are keeping some wedding traditions but losing quite a few, too. 

Traditions (For Us) to Lose

Parental Dances:  As I have previously mentioned, I lost my father in 2005.  This means no father/daughter dance.  I am very much OK with this - one dance with all eyes on us is more than enough.  We are also skipping the mother/son dance because, well, Mr. B is 46 and that just seems awkward.  I am confident we will all share dances as the night progresses and I would rather them be natural--without all eyes on us. 

Garter: No. Thank. You.  It never even crossed my mind to have a moment like this:
Image via Red Box Pictures
I know this is a very common tradition and it is considered the "norm," but I do not want this moment at my wedding.  The thought of anyone seeing Mr. B grab something from under my dress--especially my grandmother!--just makes me cringe.  I doubt I will even wear a garter, although if I do it will probably be something like this as a treat for Mr. B:
Image via Etsy
Bouquet Toss:  I can count on one hand the number of single women at our wedding.  Even if there were a lot of them, I still don't think we would do this.  It just seems so unnatural and it can be uncomfortable for everyone involved.  A lot of weddings do find a way to make it fun for those involved, I just don't see that happening with my crew. 

Grand Exit:  It actually upsets me that this isn't on the list of traditions we will use. 
Image via Bridal Guide / Photo by Pure 7 Studios
I have been dreaming of a sparkler exit almost since day one.  It just isn't logistically possible with our venue, though.  Our reception is on the second floor of a restaurant and having a bunch of people line the staircase with sparklers doesn't sound safe.  The restaurant is on a busy city street, making an outdoor sparkler exit not feasible, either.  Boo hoo :(

Getaway Car: We could throw a stone (well, maybe Mariano Rivera could throw a stone) from our reception venue to our hotel.  It seems silly to hire a special car to drive us less than a quarter mile.  Mr. B doesn't like the idea of us just walking down the street, though, so we are thinking of alternatives.  Savannah has a lot of horse and carriages, which could be a neat option.
Image via Meredith Perdue
There are also pedicabs in Savannah, which could make for an interesting getaway:
Image via Savannah Pedicab
If we do the horse and carriage, I think I will plan for it to take us on a little tour of the city so we get our money's worth. 

I think those are the major traditions we are skipping.  Now tell me - what did you skip?  Will our guests feel something is missing without these? 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Traditions to Use

Like many brides, I want to be somewhat "traditional" on my wedding day, but at the same time I want our day to reflect us.  I think we are planning a good mix of what traditions to use and to what lose.

Traditions to Use

First Dance:  I will go into more detail later, but we are already so excited for our first dance as husband and wife.  No, we won't be one of those cool couples who surprises everyone with an awesome dance, although I love how that is becoming popular.  We are just very excited about the song we selected and we can't wait to share it with our friends and family.

Love this!  Photo by Kimberley Bednarski Anderson / Image via KB Image Photo

Somethings:  We all know the expression, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."  And sometimes a sixpence in her shoe is included, although I don't think I will go that far.  I like this one a lot-- it is a neat way to tie us brides together.  You can easily incorporate these details into your ensemble and it is sweet to remember the special meaning of each piece.  I already know my earrings (and possibly shoes) will be my something blue.  I think I am borrowing Bridesmaid Runner's veil, so that will be my something borrowed.  My dress will be new.  Until a few nights ago, the only missing piece was something old--but then Mr. B gave me this:

Personal Photo


This is a pin that belonged to his grandmother.  I unfortunately never met her but it is clear to me her legacy lives on in Mr. B's family.  Incorporating her into our day just feels right.

Wedding Cake:  I've already talked about our wedding cake so it isn't news that we are having one.  I did, however, consider other options.  There are so many ways to sweeten up your reception these days -- candy buffets, cupcake towers, ice cream sundae bars, etc.  I love all of those options but I also love the idea of having a wedding cake.  It just seems so classic.  Another deciding factor is the fact we do not have a lot of room for extra tables at the reception--a small table for the cake will be tricky enough to squeeze in. 

That seems to be the end of the line for the major traditions we are using, unless you count a wedding dress, bouquet, bridesmaids, and all of the other items that are "traditions" but also no-brainers.  I am excited to have some of this history with me on my wedding day.  What traditions were important to you? 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Savannah Scouting: The Important Stuff

Mr. B and I spent a few days in Savannah to work on wedding details, eat too much delicious food, and enjoy beautiful weather.  This is an entry in a recap of that trip. 

The most important part of this trip was meeting with the man who will marry us, Reverend Enoch Hendry.  During our search for the right church, we did not even think about finding a church with a good pastor.  We did not know who would marry us but we knew we didn't want it to be a "stranger."  Well, once we found Trinity United Methodist Church, our officiant became a no-brainer.  The service we attended was so powerful.  It was rare for a pastor to move me as much as Rev. Hendry did.  We both left the service wondering if this was it - if this was the man who would marry us. 

The outside of our beautiful church
We thought about it for a few weeks and finally decided to see if it was even an option--deciding that if Rev. Hendry was willing and able, we would use him as our officiant.  He was!  In an effort to not feel like strangers we decided that we would visit with him whenever we were in town.  This trip provided the perfect opportunity and we met him for coffee at one of the best coffee places I've been to, The Coffee Fox.  In order to give him some background, we emailed him a letter outlining a lot of our major milestones and details about our lives.  We met with him for about an hour and had such a great time.  I already feel like he knows us pretty well and I am excited to meet with him again.
A history of the church



Although we were not able to go inside the church, we did get a good view of the outside and the square where it is located, Telfair Square. 





I think this square will be a beautiful place to take family pictures before we take the bridal party elsewhere for portraits.



One other item we attempted to handle during the trip was parking.  In Savannah you can rent metered spaces for a set period of time and we thought this would be helpful in front of the church for our families and Day Of Coordinator.  The address we found for where to go do this was an empty field near train tracks in a very sketchy neighborhood.  Hmmm...  Looks like we need to just mail the form in.




































The final item we crossed of our list before heading out of town was a major one - we got our marriage license!  Ack!  Georgia does not have a waiting period and they also do not require you get married within a certain number of days of getting your license.  So--we did it!  It was rather uneventful--just hand over your license and some money, say you are not related, and there you have it!  I just need to make sure I don't lose it in the next few months...

We headed back to Tallahassee, confident we were ahead of the game.  It felt so good to get a lot of these things done and I am getting more and more excited for October to just be here already.

How did you decide who would be your officiant?  Anyone else get their marriage license five months before their wedding? 

(All photos are personal.)






Monday, June 10, 2013

Savannah Scouting: Reception Venue

Mr. B and I spent a few days in Savannah to work on wedding details, eat too much delicious food, and enjoy beautiful weather.  This is an entry in a recap of that trip. 

Going back to our reception venue, Garibaldi, was one of the main goals of mine for this trip.  I wanted to get a good view of of everything and have physical pictures to look at when planning, instead of just referring to the pictures in my mind.  Let me tell you - it did not disappoint.  Take a look at our gorgeous reception space:




The setup will be different than pictured here.  We will have round tables that seat ten and the area at the far end of the above picture (against the windows) will be the dance floor/DJ area.   There will be table service but people will also be able to order drinks from the gorgeous bar.


The lighting is so much prettier than I remembered.


And there are gorgeous mirrors along the walls.  


Chiavari chairs are included, which I love. 


They also have these neat mercury glass candle holders -  I am seriously considering using these along with the floral centerpieces. 


Did you notice the woman talking to Mr. B in the third picture?  She is Garibaldi's special events coordinator and she is who I have been working with exclusively.  Our visit was her last day at Garibaldi - she is going to Norway to be with her sick mother.  Cue panic?  Not really - I've been pretty good about not freaking out about it.  They have someone temporarily in her spot and they are searching for a permanent replacement.  I am confident they will find someone in a timely manner and since I am doing most of the organization/planning myself, it isn't a huge deal.

So there we have it - this is where we will spend the evening watching old friends connect with new ones, dancing our first dance as husband and wife, and eating delicious food (and cake!).  I am trying to think of a way to make the linens not so starkly white, potentially with a navy runner or something else.  Please send suggestions if you have any!

Did anyone else lose a coordinator mid-way through planning?  Isn't this venue just beautiful?

(All photos personal.)

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Savannah Scouting: Rehearsing the Rehearsal Dinner

Mr. B and I spent a few days in Savannah to work on wedding details, eat too much delicious food, and enjoy beautiful weather.  This is an entry in a recap of that trip. 

One thing we love to do in Savannah (well, anywhere we go if we're being honest) is eat. We made dinner reservations at the place where we will be having our rehearsal dinner, Belford's, and it did not disappoint.   


We were introduced to Belford's on our first anniversary trip.  Looking for somewhere to eat lunch, we wandered into Ellis Square.  A beautiful restaurant with outdoor seating caught our eye so we stopped in - and I am so glad we did!  We had an amazing lunch and loved everything about the restaurant. 
We looked at Belford's for our reception but it wasn't quite right for that - but it was the right fit for our rehearsal dinner!  The restaurant has both inside and outside seating and it is divided almost in half.  You can rent one half and they will open up the doors to combine the inside and outside space.

A view of the outside seating:


What will be our section of the outside:


Our section of the inside:


These are the doors that will open to the outside:


The doorway to the main part of the restaurant, which can be closed off:


We plan on having our bridal party and families come to a sit-down dinner.  We will then open it up to everyone for a "welcome reception."  I anticipate only needing the indoor space for the dinner but then opening up the outdoor space for the reception.  I am already so excited to see everyone!  It will be nice to catch up with friends I don't get to see very often.

After the reception people will be in a great place to grab a drink and listen to music.  This is the view of the square where Belford's is located:


It is two or three blocks of restaurants and bars and there is usually a band playing at the end of the square.  The best part?  It is right next to where I will spend that night (and the next).  My goal is to be able to really enjoy this evening - to be done with everything and stress-free.  Hah!  Good luck with that? 

I know this is a bit more formal for a rehearsal dinner than some choose, but it seemed right for us.  One of the reasons we love Savannah is the great food and having a nice dinner will be the perfect way to showcase that. 

Did you have a welcome reception?  Am I crazy for thinking I will be able to relax and actually enjoy myself the day before the wedding?

Random coincidence:  I was watching Bravo's "Newlyweds: The First Year" the other night and one of the couples had their rehearsal dinner there, too.  See it here

(All photos personal.)

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Savannah Scouting: Let {Us} Eat Cake!

Mr. B and I spent a few days in Savannah to work on wedding details, eat too much delicious food, and enjoy beautiful weather.  This is an entry in a recap of that trip.

I was fortunate to attend Bridesmaid BOC's bachelorette party the Friday through Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and Mr. B and I figured we should turn that trip into a very extended weekend in Savannah after I was done with the ladies.  We spent Sunday through Tuesday finalizing some wedding details and just enjoying the city where we will be married.

I mentioned early on that I was excited about our cake tasting and when the day finally came, it did not disappoint!   The very first thing we did the Sunday we got to Savannah was taste the wonderful box of sampling cupcakes provided to us by Baker's Pride.  They provided us with a huge box of cupcakes of all their cake flavors and both of their frosting options.



Our cake options were strawberry, yellow, red velvet, chocolate, carrot, and hummingbird.  Our frosting options were white (sort of a buttercream) and cream cheese.

We headed out to Forsyth Park, champagne and cupcakes in hand.


We started with the ones we didn't think we would want, strawberry and red velvet.  The strawberry was too much for my taste and although the red velvet was delicious, it wasn't a fit for us.  We both agreed pretty early on that we preferred the cream cheese frosting - it was just so delicious.

We then tried the yellow (vanilla) and both of us loved it.  I knew I didn't want just vanilla, though, so we kept going...  Next up - carrot cake.  It was very good but not something we saw for our wedding cake.  Next up - chocolate!  Before we took a bite Mr. B said, "It's too bad we can't have a chocolate wedding cake."  Umm, wha?  We can't have a chocolate wedding cake?  Says who?  "Isn't it bad luck or something?"  Hmmm...  This is news to me.  The chocolate was so delicious - we both loved it.  Is chocolate cake bad luck?  If not, I may try and lobby for this one to find a place in our cake.

We then hit the wedding cake jackpot - hummingbird, which they described as "spice cake with banana and pineapple."  I am so jaded by the taste that I don't even know if that sounds weird for a wedding cake but I don't care.  It was amazing.  It was one of the tastiest cupcakes I've ever tried, and that is saying something.  We were in total agreement on yellow and hummingbird, we just need to figure out how to divide that in our three layers.  We think the hummingbird is the best but we don't know if everyone will agree.  Our current plan is to have vanilla as the top and bottom and hummingbird as the middle, although I am open to suggestions for another way of making it work.

You guys, I am almost embarrassed to show the "finished" picture.  We did a horrible job of eating the cupcakes.


Seriously, that's all we ate.  We basically each took one bite from each cupcake, which added up to two bites of each cake flavor and one bite of each frosting.  To be fair, this was at the beginning of a very gluttonous trip and we knew a lot of food was in our future (details to come!).

We did, however, figure out a way to finish the champagne.

I hope I am not one of those brides who doesn't get to eat their wedding cake - I am really looking forward to it!  Now what to do about a cake topper?  And is chocolate bad luck?   Will more people want hummingbird than yellow? 

All photos personal.