Miniette Bride

We had a pretty awesome time

2009-10-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

More photos on my flickr

Wedding Showers

2009-09-09T08:46:00.001-07:00

Jessica and Melissa accompanied me Up North to Bemidji a few weeks ago for a sweet little Apron/Julia Child themed wedding shower at my mom's house. We went up a day early and helped her cut out the pennants for the reception decorations.

First, we ironed on some stiffener to make the pennants hang nicely (they will only be seen on one side). I had bought some fun Amy Butler and Anna Maria Horner prints in apple green and plum.

Then, Mom marked out all the triangles. Earlier, we had done a little math to determine that for every foot of length we would do about a foot and a half of swag. I knew we needed 100' of length, so that meant we needed 150' of pennants and ribbon! I had 6 yards of fabric. We decided on 4x6 triangles, so 3 pennants would make a foot, so 150'*3=450 pennants.

Really, we can get 6 pennants per foot because we could double them with the left over space. 3 feet in a yard times 6 is 18 pennants per yard across. Multiply that by repeating the process down the fabric depending on length and we figured one yard could make 108 pennants. We'd need about 4.5 yards of fabric and 6 yards would be plenty.

Then there was the cutting and cutting and cutting.

(Picture cutesy of Jessica)

They turned out just how I imagined.

(Picture cutesy of Jessica)

That evening, as Jess put it, "We did a good job of pretending to be 21 year olds and drinking combats at Keg." Combats - I had totally forgotten about them! But first we sat at our old table at 209 and I played lots of songs on the Juke Box, which the table behind us kept singing along too!

I couldn't get them to dance with me, yet. (Picture cutesy of Jessica)

We had a great sweaty time.

Sunday afternoon we had a little backyard garden party.

We pinned my Grandma Hutchinson's vintage aprons around the gift table. See the "C" she embroidered on the blue one.

Look at Dad's beautiful Gladiolas that Mom has so artfully arranged. Someday maybe I'll do this too.

Here I am in my new apron. Supercute.

Thanks to Jess for all her help.

Then, the next weekend we did it all again at Jess's house in Blaine. Somehow, I don't have very many pictures of this, but thankfully Jess and my mom got a few. It was equally fun and delicious and I got to meet some of the Bayerls that I didn't know. Mom came too!

P.S. after a few fittings the dress is so close to being done! I think just a bustle, and a little more bust tuck (damn).

The dress is in!

2009-08-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

I came in on Wednesday last week and luckily I was heading up to Bemidji for the shower (so fun!).

I tried it on and the lady said, "Ooo, we should have ordered you a smaller size." I lost a little weight and now the dress that fit perfect in the hips when I tried it on, should be at least one size smaller. Time for alterations.

I'm going to have "bust cups" sewn in, so there won't be a need for a bra. It also needs to be hemmed (even with my tall heels it's too long) and it will need a bustle.

I'm lucky to be marrying into a very helpful family, most of whom live in the cities. So, Anthony's Aunt has graciously offered to alter my dress, which is a relief, because having the alterations done in Bemidji would be an additional headache that I don't need.

Reception Moodboard

2009-07-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Pennant garland, dahlias, dancing, pies, apples and embroidery.

I've already embroidered a large hoop with our names in a heart like this to go on top of the fireplace mantle. My mom has graciously offered to make the pennant garland and we went to Sweeney's the other night to measure the areas we want to hang it. It's finally starting to be a little cohesive and not just notions floating around in my head.

Thinking about wedding bands

2009-07-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

We eventually need to pick out some wedding bands. We could just go down to the jewelry chain stores and choose something generic, but I'm really loving these options from etsy.

Honeymoon Plans

2009-07-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

Thinking about honeymooning in the Smoky Mountains, catching some Needtobreathe in Nashville and some beautiful views.

View Larger Map

The Invitations are Out

2009-07-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

They've been out for more than a week now and we've pretty much finished the wedding website! The RSVPs are trickling in, via email, snail mail, phone and our RSVP form on the website. We may have given people a few to many venues. (The best part is the songs people are requesting.)

I gave Anthony some examples of invitations that I liked for inspiration and he created the most awesome cards that convey our style and set the feeling for the day.

Inspiration:

The Result:
He designed them to fit two per 11x17 sheet of paper and so they would fit in an envelope available at Office Max.

Anthony purchased the paper from Anchor Paper at their retail storefront in Burnsville. His company, EAC, was gracious enough to let us print the invitations on their color laser printer. Anthony set them up in InDesign to coordinate printing front and back. Then, he took them to Kinkos to be cut with a big scary guillotine.

At home, Anthony meticulously folded each card, as I stuffed and addressed the envelopes. He had also printed our return address to make things easier. $40 for postage, $16 for 100 envelopes + $40 for a ream of 11x17 gloss cardstock = $96 invitations. $1.20/invitation. Not too shabby. And we have plenty of leftover paper, so maybe we'll use it for thank-you cards or Christmas cards.

We also collaborated on the website, julieandanthony.com:

My Groom is so Great.

Is it tempting fate to use the words eternity & forever?

2009-06-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

I'd love to have some kind of graphic poster print with a sweet saying to set on the mantle (see above) at the reception. But since so many people get divorced, is it poor taste to say that we'll be together forever when some of the guests couldn't hack it?

On the other hand we've both agreed that even if we are miserable with each other, ain't no divorce happening. So, guess maybe it'd be OK.

I want to hang some kind of festive banner across the fireplace too. I'm leaning towards a cute home-made string of pennants, but balloons and words are sweet too. Or we could do something cool with our monogram.

Also, love this "how they met invite". That would be a fun thing to display for people to read. Anthony and I had oddly parallel lives and I like displaying something like that instead of a photo slideshow. It could go on the great built in china hutch that they have.

These friend and family geneologies and "how-we-know-each-guest" trees are fun too. But probably better with assigned seating and table numbers.

I always love a good clothes line and this is a great way to display photographs.

On the table decoration front, I've settled on Apple green to go with my dark purple dahlias. I plan to fill tall, straight vases with pretty granny smith apples along with perhaps a small, low arrangement of garden flowers, preferably dahlias. And maybe a couple votives?

Finally, I love this embroidered canopy (probably a chuppah) and hopefully I can embroider some pretty fabric like this to hang across the front of the communion table at the ceremony.

Dahlias!

2009-06-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted some yummy strawberries. So, I was looking through the list of pick-your-own berry farms in Minnesota and came upon Two Pony Gardens. They sell over 150 varieties of large garden "pick your own" DAHLIAS! And they use and support sustainable gardening practices. They are West of the cities in Long Lake. They don't have a website or an email, so I gave them a call and asked about the availability of flowers in the last week of September, specifically dark purple ones. My fingers are crossed, but this looks like an awesome option for flowers.

What other colors should we have?

Big white dahlia in my hair?

Pink dahlias for maids?

Because I can't help myself

2009-05-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

I'm still looking at bridesmaids dresses, even though I told all the ladies they could order what ever they want. (Just trying to be helpful:) Here's a couple that I found that I think would be awesome.

First, from Target, how cute is this one shoulder number? And it's $39.99!

This Mori Lee dress is available locally at the Wedding Shoppe on Grand and comes in a great plum color. It's pretty resonable at $116.

This pretty silk J.Crew dress may be $165 retail, but right now it's $24.99 on Ebay

The fun has already started, because I think one bridesmaid already ordered this lovely frock in a nice plum from Eden Bridals.

And, my Mom told me she found a great dress over Mother's Day weekend at Macy's visiting my brother in Fargo. But, before that, I thought this pretty satin shirt dress from Nordstrom was fun and not too matronly.

Maybe, I'll get one of these for myself to wear to the rehearsal dinner:)

Ties that don't suck

2009-05-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Anthony's going to wear a tuxedo for the wedding. But, I want him to have fun with what he wears and not just be a generic tux. So, this was the first draft with Men's Wearhouse's fun Build-a-Tux.

Pretty boring and regular. Purple tie & vest.

I'd also be interested in a navy suit or even tan.

I'd rather do a real tie and no vest (is it no longer a tux without a vest?). Especially if it's an awesome handmade tie from Etsy. Anthony likes these and I'm thinking the other groomsmen would think they are pretty cool too, so we could give them as gifts.

And how 'bout some awesome socks?

And maybe a little note inside his jacket.

***Update***
Wouldn't a boutonniere made of guitar picks be rockin'? From Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres

Dresses that didn't make the cut

2009-05-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

I ordered my super-duper wedding dress over Easter vacation and am now waiting for it to be made. While I wait here are a few dresses that I tried on in my two dress shopping adventures.

First in Bemidji with the Up North Bridesmaids, Amber & Angi and Mom:

Then, a week later in Woodbury with the Metro Bridesmaids, Melissa & Jessica and Auntie Lisa and Andrea the baker.

So hard to choose:)

Oh, J. Crew. You are such a tease

2009-04-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

You make the most beautiful bridesmaid dress. But only in TWO colors!

Neither of which is plum. Arg.

Cakes

2009-04-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

I always thought that I'd have a big white wedding cake. But Anthony's not too crazy about cake in general and with his sister as our baker, we have so many more options.

I'm thinking a single or two-tiered cake to cut and for those who want cake. Maybe red velvet or something yummy with filling and buttercream frosting with fondant flowers.

I love these fondant peonies on the cover of Real Simple this year.

Since it will be Fall, apple pie would be lovely. And my parents can freeze enough rhubarb for plenty of pies too.

Image from A Backyard Wedding

And perhaps, I can talk her into a cheesecake, maybe even a pumpkin one.

And if I'm really nice and say pretty please I can get some pretty purple (and accent color to be determined) macaroons out of the deal.

Going for something like this

2009-04-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

Except in purple. I found this wedding on Style Me Pretty where the bridesmaids wore completely different dresses, long and short, in similar colors.

See, it does look awesome. And so much less stressful than trying to please everyone's budget, shape and skin. I'm even going so far as to let them choose whatever shoe they want - color, style and heel height.

I made a little mock-up of some color combinations and ideas on polyvore:

Bridesmaids by julesmae featuring Dorothy Perkins jewelry

Bring Your Dancing Shoes

2009-04-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Photo from Altmix Photography

Anthony and I don't agree on a lot of things about planning the wedding. But the one thing we pretty much always agree on is the playlist.

In fact, it may be the thing that we are both most excited about. Every time I think about dancing to a fun song at the reception I just get so happy.

We've picked our first dance song - Lori McKenna's, "Witness to Your Life". I knew that I loved Anthony for real, when I put this song on a mix for him and he became as obsessed with it as I was.

I'm thinking "Daddy's Hands" by Holly Dunn for my dance with my dad. It's a good 80s country song that makes me think of my childhood. And one of my criteria was something we could two-step to and this definitely fits the bill.

Beyond that it will probably be lots of fun stuff that we like. Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness, Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger, Miranda Lambert - Kerosine, Needtobreathe, Kenny Chesney - Ticks, Dan Wilson - Free Life. And lots more that I just can't think of right now.

Should we put a song request line on our RSVP cards?

Mom! This is the wedding I was looking for

2009-03-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Photos via Brooklyn Bride
Aubergine and Lime, natural linen table runners and white pumpkins. Not so sure how much I like the lime, but I love everything else about this color scheme.

We may have a date

2009-03-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Reception venue is available.
Church is reserved.
Pastor is tentatively available.
Organist needs to be contacted.

Looks like St. Paul (for a brief moment I considered Bemidji), on September 26, 2009 is our date. Yay!

I'm thinking dark purple/aubergine/plum dresses, purple dahlias for me and another pop color (green or magenta) flower for the maids.

Photo above from Martha's Blog. If she can grow 'em, maybe I can too.

I could also be persuaded to do a pretty teal/steely blue dresses with everyone having plum colored flowers.

And white pumpkins on the tables. (See the little white pumpkins on the tables above?)

Ooo, maybe white or silver glittered pumpkins! Oh, my :)

Slowly Getting Things Done

2009-03-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

I've started to have the problem that I wake up at 4:00 AM thinking about things that need to get done for the wedding. Call this person, call that person, call reception venues, visit reception venues, figure out a date, call the officiant, call the organist, pick a date, tell the church the date, pick colors, order a dress, find a reception venue, ask parents for money, and on and on.

So it feels good that we're going to check out our first reception venue tonight, Sweeney's Saloon. It hadn't occurred to me to look into them until Erica suggested it (thanks). I'm pretty excited, because it seems too good to be true: in St. Paul, cheap, and not ugly. They are one of my favorite bars in St. Paul and I'm sure everyone would have a great time there. And according to their party coordinator they are open the last two Saturdays of September. Only snag would be that they don't have much parking, mostly on the surrounding streets. However the parking would be free.

Anthony and I are going up North for Grandma Albrecht's Dumpling Sunday this weekend and so I'm taking the opportunity to dress shop with my mom and the maids up there. I don't think there will be any purchasing however, because I've been researching having a dress made via an ebay seller.

I've been grilling the seller with fabric questions, foundation questions, and image requests. I've also been searching for reviews of their shop on wedding forums. So far, it looks as though people have been happy customers and pleased with the fit, style and quality.
This is what I want.
Here's what they sent me.
They mentioned that this was for someone who was very tall, thus the added fabric. Otherwise, it's pretty close to the real $4000 thing but for only $600. The flounced lace at the bottom seems like it needs lining though.

And I still need to talk to Anthony's Aunt about making my dress - but she might not have enough time. We'll see.

Next week, we are meeting with a photographer. The same one who took pictures when I worked on Mary Olson's state senate campaign and currently works for the State House of Representatives. The price is right and I'm hoping he can do a nice photo journalistic style that we can edit into amazing photos.

Yay!

New Week, New Possibilities

2009-03-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

So, on Friday I chatted with my Mom about all of the issues I was having below. Turns out, my brother has decided to postpone his wedding for probably about a year. Yay! Plans are back on for Kansas, Julie G!

She recommended paying off the credit cards and saving, which was my initial plan before all this engagement happened.

She also really pushed for a non-winter wedding. Mostly, keeping in mind older guests that would be attending from 4+ hours away. I explained that the issue was saving money to pay for the big day and avoiding the Legislative Session and 2010 Campaign season. Then, she offered to help us out in that department. This conversation combined with the news of my brother's postponed wedding has given me hope that we could get married this September or October! Time for a blog name change.

Now, I've got to call the Pastor again to check his availability. Then, we're on a new reception venue search. We've had an offer from a friend to brew us two kegs of beer for a wedding gift, so we need to find somewhere that will let us do that (by some miracle). Also, another friend offered to cater it for us. This was a slightly less realistic offer but good nonetheless. Anthony's sister is going to make our cake and his aunt has offered to make a dress for me. I'm loving that this is turning out to be a family-centered party and not a vendor-center event.

Anyone have a good idea about where to have the reception? Somewhere near my church (Snelling and Marshall) with free parking, and allows us to have our own alcohol and possibly a non-standard caterer. Somewhere that has dates open in September or October where we could have a dance party that isn't insanely expensive (glaring at Eagan Community Center). Ideas?

(Picture of a couple outside the Landmark Center in St. Paul)

Dates and Dollars

2009-02-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

(Pictures from Goodwill's Wedding Dress Sale, where I didn't buy anything but had a great time with Jessica, Melissa and Andrea last weekend)
If I had my way, we'd get married this summer. Why should it take a year to plan a party? Buy a dress and order some food, done. But, we don't really have enough money to have a $7,000 wedding in August. So, to avoid credit card debt, we must save money to pay for it.

The state budget deficit will likely not be fixed by the end of this legislative session (May 18, 2009). Thus, we will need special sessions which will probably last into the Summer. So, work would probably prevent me from a Summer wedding anyway. On to the Fall.

My brother, who got engaged almost a year ago, and got pregnant around Christmas, has now planned to get married in October (on the same day as Julie G.:( so, the Fall is out. That's when I hope we'll be able to buy a house.

Then, we're into Winter. Avoiding holidays, our birthdays, and deer hunting season we're into January 2010. But, we wanted to give people some time to recover from holiday spending.

So, then we have tentatively picked January 23, 2010 (a million years away!) and it turns out that the minister has planned a ski vacation. Gah! I'm a bit picky about church services and he makes church feel real and not phony.

So, maybe January 16th or 30th? After that, the legislative session starts again, when I'm not allowed to take time off. Assuming that session would start in (a bonding year) February or March and end on time in May, we could postpone it until then. But, my boss is also running for Minnesota Governor and the State DFL endorsing convention is always the first weekend in June. I'm planning to be a big part of that, which would seriously hinder my ability to plan a DIY wedding. And I always said I wouldn't get married in an election year!

Also, we're looking to buy a house before December 1, 2009, so we can utilize the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.

Then, the question arises - save money to pay for the wedding or save that money to add to the down payment or pay off credit cards to make your credit look better to possible home mortgage lenders?

Since, we have to buy a house to get the credit seems like we should save money to put towards a down payment and use the tax credit to pay for the wedding (I figured it out, we should get a $8,000 check, however not sure how the interactions will go since we filed separately in 2008 and are buying a home together. Do we split the credit?). Is it solved? Maybe. That's assuming we get our checks in a timely manner. Or is this a recipe for financial disaster?

Anthony wants paper flowers

2009-02-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

I'm a little skeptical, but something like these would be nice. Minus the raffia and a different vase.