Etsy Finds

It has become a norm that when in doubt, go to Etsy! I have used Etsy a ton throughout this wedding process and thought I'd give a run down of a lot of vendors who have helped the process be possible.

1. Palm Papers: A boutique stationary and design studio. Lauren, the designer behind the label actually designs for Minted as well as having her own website, and everything she does is so classy and fabulous! AND she was the designer of our invitations! :)

2. Pack & Post: The lovely Samantha helped in assisting me in my selection of vintage stamps and she was local, but I found her on etsy! She has great stuff, check it out! :)

3. Sweet Magnolia Designs: Our rehearsal invitations were ordered through this vendor and I loved them! They fit perfectly with our them! What do you think?! I realized I never posted a final picture of them.  

 4. Veils of Art: I took a chance and ordered my veil on etsy y'all! And it came out pretty well, but you'll just have to wait another 11 days for any sneak peeks but you can check out their page. ;)

5. Sweet Bennett: I purchased a custom burlap banner for our engagement photos. Although I didn't use it very much it came out well and the shop owner was super nice and friendly and now our banner is featured on the site!

6. Garters by Kristi: Hopefully fiance doesn't read this but I purchased my garter shortly after being engaged and it HAD to be an NC State one of course! I love the garter because I have a toss and keep one too! 

7. Burlap Babe: Custom bridal hanger! I can't wait to use this on the wedding day to hang up my dress. It looks great and it'll look even better with my dress!

  

Well, there you have it! My top etsy buys thus far! Have you found things you love off etsy? Any other sites you may use?!

xoxo,

a.

Wedding Stress

Y'all I literally just googled how to deal with wedding stress because I'm exhausted. With 14 days to go I'm getting to the point where I'm nervous about enjoying the wedding day itself. I know, it's CRAZY but I feel crazy too! I'm just nervous because I want to be so happy and giddy and to relinquish control and remember why I'm going through this process; to marry my best friend of life. I'm not nervous because I'm marrying fiance, I'm just nervous because I have this mindset that it has to be perfect, but I know it doesn't! It just needs to end with a smile, a kiss and a new last name. 

I found this article from A Practical Wedding, a long time ago and read it and really appreciated the words. It really depicts how I need to remember that it's just one day and life will go on and it may not go the way I want it to go but as long as I get the ending I wanted in the first place, I'll be extremely happy. I just had to go back and find the article to calm myself down. Now if only my body would get on board...

xoxo,
a. 

Wedding Update: 15 Days

I have to admit whenever I write the date, I get a little freaked out. It's rapidly approaching y'all and I'm amazed that we're almost there.  Let's do this!

I Still Love You

 What's been done:
- Fiance picked his mother/son song
- Met with caterer to finalize menu
- Had a lash trial with makeup artist
- Finalized wedding day timeline (for now)
- RSVP deadline was October 20th and we pretty much have all of them
- Met with caterer for Sunday brunch post-wedding
- Continued shopping for rehearsal dinner dress
- Designed water bottle labels
- Finalized all rental items
- Purchased all gifts for women in the wedding
- Continued updating registry
- Finalized wedding ceremony songs
- Scanned photos for slide show
- FINALLY mailed bridesmaid luncheon invitations

To accomplish in the next 17 days:
- Work on signage for reception
- Get materials for OOT bags
- Invite guests to Sunday Brunch
- Pick a rehearsal dinner dress
- Order napkins for reception
- Figure out wedding day transportation
- Work on vendor timeline
- Final vendor payments
- Finish chalk boards
- Keep practicing dances

Rehearsal Dinner Dress

As I have mentioned previously, our rehearsal dinner is a pig pickin' tailgate style in honor of our alma mater, NCSU. Basically what that entails is that it's a red and white theme with bbq and the fixin's! WOO! 

In terms of what attire I wanted, naturally I wanted to wear white, but we also asked our guests to wear red and white. But y'all, it's so hard finding a white dress, that fits and is appropriate for the theme. I didn't want anything too dressy but nothing too casual..

So here's what I've found and am considering. (Although I DO have to admit I'm leaning towards one specifically, but I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!)

 Trina Turk Esteem Dress

 Zara v-neck dress

Zara pleated dress

BCBG lace dress

Marielle Lace Lilly Pulitzer

What do y'all think? I would love to hear what you're thinking about wearing or if you'd recommend anything!

xoxo,

a.

Hiring a Videographer

Growing up I was never the victim of endless parental videos of momentous occasions or random ones either. We never had a video camera so I never really understood the importance of home videos. Also the fact that "wedding videos" have a bad rep from the 80's and 90's as being your stationary ceremony video with little to no imagination.

Upon being introduced to the magical world of wedding blogs I started to notice more and more wedding videos. I didn't really feel like watching most of them but when my photographer, Meredith, posted about her sister's business, Inkspot Crow, I fell head over heels in love. I was hooked. (Y'all they ARE FAB so check them out!) BUT for me, I wasn't hooked on the price. Just getting the photographer was hard enough. So the more and more I looked the more my hopes got crushed because there was no way we could pay for one.

Then one day in September I saw this video:

Jenna & Jac Wedding from Scott Simerly Jr. on Vimeo.

It was a girl I went to college with and of course, the video made me tear up. So I decided to email the man behind the magic and he was AVAILABLE and in my price range!! OMG, fate right?! Then, I showed Fiance and low and behold, he KNEW the guy because he is a fellow Alumnus of NCSU! Obviously it was meant to be right?!

So as of Wednesday it's official, Scott Simerly of Simile Productions will be producing our wedding video and I honestly could NOT be more excited!! I about burst with glee when he said YES! I cannot wait to see what Scott can do and further more I can't wait for our wedding. It's so freaking close!!

xoxo,
a.

Planning Update: 23 days to go

 Time is flying by but we are still managing to tick off our wedding checklist!

via Style Me Pretty

Since October 10th:
– We ordered reception koozies
– Meet with florist to finalize ceremony and reception details
– Invited guests to pre-wedding golf outing
– We invited guests to the rehearsal dinne
– Worked on reception timeline and discussed details with the band
– Took dance lessons with fiance and dad
- Decided on our first dance song!
– We deputized rehearsal dinner slide show to fiance's sister
– Started my workout regimen
– Finished purchasing my maids gifts
– Ordered a few dress options for the rehearsal..
– Finalized cake details, flavors, and payment
- Decided on my processional song
- Found a venue for Sunday brunch
- Hired a videographer!!


A few of the tasks to be completed in the next two weeks:
– Invite guests to Sunday brunch
– More signage
– Scan photos for slide show
– Design our program chalk board
– Work on signage for reception
– Finalize our wedding day schedule.. (never ending!)
– Print maps, welcome bag pieces, and ceremony programs
– Make final selections for our bar 
- Make final selections for our wedding menu
- Contact all persons who haven't RSVP'd
- Pick mother/son song
- Finalize rental selections
 

Bridal Fashion Week

With the number of wedding blogs, instagram accounts, pinterest and various forms of bridal inspiration, it's hard not to appreciate Fashion Week. The designs, details, fabrics, textures, and pure romance that oozes from the runways, it's hard not to get giddy even if I already have a dress!

Anyone have any favorites from this year? Here are some of mine:

 amsale

 amsale

 christos

 Ines Di Santo

 Jenny Packham

 Jim Hljem

 Kenneth Pool

 Marchesa

 Marchesa

 Monique Lhuillier

 Monique Lhuillier

Vera Wang

Le sigh..

xoxo,

a.

Workin' on my fitness

Once upon a time in college I was fit, healthy and motivated. Then a got a new boyfriend and graduated, started a career and then got engaged.. When I got engaged I figured I would start working out and getting fit but since we were engaged for 15 months, and because I lost ten pounds anyway just from being stressed and busy, I wasn't in a rush and because I actually felt pretty good, not great, but good. I had been researching for a while some fitness classes and came across Pure Barre which I thought could definitely be up my alley but never got motivated to go. So when I had saw MRS. Emily had blogged about Pure Barre yesterday, and because I had the day off today, I decided to get off my rear and GO!

Oh. My. God. OUCH! It was definitely a workout. My legs were shaking uncontrollably and those 2lb weights I laughed at, were just enough. It was really intense and about 20 minutes into the class I was like, yeah right, not doing this EVER AGAIN. But I signed up for a month unlimited and have decided that I'm going to make an effort to go and stretch my muscles, tone my arms up a bit more, and maybe have a tighter tummy for the honeymoon! We'll see how it goes from here and how I'll feel tomorrow..

Have you started a bridal routine? Is it important to you? What have you tried?! Let me know!

xoxo,
a.

ONE month!

EEEK!!! Ok I'm getting a little giddy.. IT'S HAPPENING. We're getting married in 31 days! But alas there are still things to do and things that have happened in the past month. 

Let's get on with it so I can remember to do what I need to, because this gal, has become a little scatter brained lately.. oops!

DONE-ZO:

bachelorette party

bridal portraits!!

trail hair and makeup

shopped for MOB dresses

paint chalk boards

groomsmen got measured

walk through with rental vendor 

purchased grooms/maid gifts
purchased a few parent gifts
ordered accessories for reception

met with florist again

mailed invitations

received our first RSVP

ordered rehearsal dinner invites

ordered men's golf outing invites
mailed men's golf outing invites

received our first wedding gift! eek!

got our MARRIAGE license

worked on timeline with photographer

got pom pom's for exit

completed ceremony details

booked rehearsal dinner caterer 

my veil arrived 
got dress for bridal luncheon

started packing for day-of wedding essentials

 TO DO:

finalize wedding menu

finalize music selections

talk with the band

decide on wedding cake design & flavors

 select rehearsal dinner outfit

create reception signage

work on chalk boards
keep working on timeline
distribute timeline, contacts, etc to vendors/family

finish wedding party/family gifts

work on slide show for rehearsal

have dance lessons with dad

work on bar linens

 work on final vendor payments
order small details (i.e. napkins, koozies, etc)
call guests who haven't rsvp'd
send out bridal luncheon invites

put together oot bags & drop off at hotel

But really, OMG we're getting married. It's happening. We're doing this. My mind is having a hard time grasping it but the reality is, that it's quickly approaching! It's a very surreal feeling because it still doesn't feel like it's happening to me and that I'm just going to another persons wedding even though the past 14 months of my life have been consumed with planning. But I'm excited guys, really! I'm also excited for a vacation...

 Can't wait to see you Cocobay!!

xoxo,

a. 

pre-wedding day activities

The day before we say "I Do" we have decided to line up a few activities to relish in our last moments of being single, so to speak. The men will have a golf outing and the women, a bridal luncheon. I'm super excited to be with my closest family members and bridal party the day before for brunch and mani's!

I'm sure the boys are just as excited for their golf day. We made the invitations for the men and called it "Pars & Cigars" where we'll give all the men a cigar and a pack of golf balls to celebrate the day. Of course there will probably be beers too!

I think it'll be a nice opportunity to spend some time with the families before the rehearsal dinner and just get some of the excitement out doing what we both do best.

Thanks to Invitationbox.com I ordered some SUPER cute invites for the men:

My mom and Aunt are the wonderful ladies behind my bridal luncheon and the invites haven't gone out yet so I'm not going to show you the one so I don't spoil the surprise. (I know most men don't read my blog, so that's why I showed the men's!) Below are some invites we didn't choose but I find equally beautiful!

 

Are you having a bridal/bridesmaid luncheon? Or a men's golf outing? What other fun ideas are out there?! I'd love to hear!

xoxo,

a.

October

It's October y'all, which means I get married NEXT month, in exactly 39 days. I can't believe it's almost here. Bare with me if my posts are sparse but I hope to keep y'all in the action, but I am getting a little busy with odds and ends.

But let's hear it for fall, pumpkins, changing leaves, scarves, halloween, cooler temps, college football, pumpkin spice lattes, boots, and wedding season!

xoxo,

a.

Bridal Portraits

On Wednesday I'm taking my bridal portraits and I'm so excited/nervous because it's also my first trial run for hair and makeup. (Hopefully the only trial I'll need..) It makes me anxious because hair is VERY important to how I feel that I look in pictures, it's my vainity. Makeup I'm not as worried about because it's something I'm confident even doing myself but I'm excited to work with both my vendors.

One of the lovely ladies that is helping me look beautiful is Sarah Der! I unfortunately could not work it out with my wonderful and amazing wedding day photographer Meredith Perdue to take bridal's so she suggested her friend Sarah! I'm SO excited to work with Sarah because she seems uber sweet and fun!! I know we're going to have a great time and that she's going to make me feel special.

I just have to hope for no rain on Wednesday evening y'all because I had to reschedule my portraits because it rained out my first scheduled date.. :( AND BOY what a pain in the rear it was to reschedule but the forecast is looking good!!

Speaking of looking good, here are some beautiful shots from Sarah to tide you over!

Honestly, I'm just excited to get all dressed up TWICE in my beautiful dress and spend some quality time with mom. It'll definitely be a memory that I won't forget. I'm just sorry I can't share anything with you until post-wedding!

xoxo,

a.