Not a bird or a plane...a pomander!

Mom and I spent alot of time discussing weddings. Like, so much so that it prompted my self-imposed vacay from the wedding.

One of the things Mom and I came up with (while discussing ways to decorate the location) was to hang flower pomanders from the ceiling. Let me explain: Theres a catwalk that hangs directly above the center aisle. We thought it would be cool to hang round orbs from said catwalk. Not only would it provide some aerial visual interest, it would serve as an abstract ceiling thingie. Something like this:



They would need to be big if they were going to be seen from the ceiling. Like beach ball big. Eventually we settled on using large paper lanterns as the base. But what to cover them with? We definitely wont be making them out of live flowers. It adds a time and budgetary constraint that we just cant accommodate. The next logical step was silk flowers. Silk flowers can also be pricey (I'll save that rant for another post). Now paper flowers? Those may work. Tissue paper flowers to be exact.

I googled tissue paper flowers and ran across Amanda's post on her VintageGlam Blog. She used paper flowers based on Martha Stewart's tutorial found here. Generally speaking, she takes ALOT of simple tissue paper flowers like this:



and turns it into this:


(First image courtesy HawaiianWeddings.net, second and third courtesy VintageGlam Blog)

Aren't they just fab! You can read about exactly what she did here. Can you imagine big white green and plum ones hanging over the event space? Okay, maybe you can't...its okay. The PHI usually needs to see a visual too. Mom and I have plans to make a mock-up when I'm home in December. We'll be using Martha's tutorial as well, and the plan is to hot glue the tissue paper flowers onto the paper lantern. If we like what we come up with, we'll be making plans to get our little crafty hands on as much tissue paper as we can manage and I'll be making paper carnations until the cows come home.

I'm pretty excited. Anyone know where I can get a paper lantern for cheap for the mockup?

♥

I'm back forreal this time :)

For a good part of the last week I was on a vacation from our wedding. I'm sure all of you fellow brides out there can totally relate. Were at a little more than 11 months til the wedding (I swear the time is FLYING by) and there are loads of things to do. It doesn't help that I keep adding things to the list - LOL.

I am pleased to report that I accomplished all but one thing on my Florida visit to-do list. I didnt do number 5. It wasnt like I had an appointment with him, I was just going to see him at church. Come Sunday morning I was so exhausted I needed to sleep in.

The weekend started with mom and I talking a trip to the location (numbers 1 & 2 on the list). She loved it there and after meeting with our Linda for the better part of 3.5 hours, mom felt like we were getting excellent service for our money. Yay!

The kids (number 4 on the list) really deserve a post all by themselves. I will say this though, the five kids belong to 2 of my first cousins. I called both of them to ask their permission and both of them were surprised I was calling to ask. I thought thats what I was supposed to do before I volunteered someone's child(ren) to be in my wedding. Before I added an extra activity and financial responsibility to my wedding. My bad :) Thankfully they both agreed and I can check that off the list. Now I'm left with figuring out what the lovely little ladies (all 4 of them) will be wearing. You know mom and I have started kicking around some ideas...

(Sorry for not moving methodically through the list) Although not completely wedding related, I accomplished both numbers 3 and 6. I love my mama and I wish that she lived much closer. Even before I got engaged. Definitely now much more so. I also saw my Dani, my Brew, Dani's boo and my Dionne - not in that order I don't think. I loved seeing them but I was tired of being social by the end of the weekend. Thankfully next time I'm home I'll be there for a while and can spread out the love a little more.

As I mentioned last week I even got to see someone I hadn't planned on seeing. My godmother is my go to for all things flowers. Both real and otherwise. We popped by her house on Friday for a quickie visit. I just happened to have my wedding organizer in tow and next thing I knew on Saturday she was fetching me for a marathon Michaels trip. We discussed bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces and other general floral things. We now have a good working plan for the flower component of the decor. The plan is for a mix of silks and live - particularly live for the bouquets. I hadn't planned on seeing her this trip, but I'm glad I did. Not only does she rock, she's super creative and very open to my aesthetic and budget. A perfect combo!

I have loads more stuff to report on - updates from the weekend, plans that are in the works, and DIY projects I've already completed. I officially came off wedding vacay at 12:30PM, and fully intended on posting at 12:31PM to commemorate. I've been running all day. Not even with wedding stuff. I needed an oil change, I had library fees to pay, I have bills to pay, I had to figure out what to eat, I needed to go to Walmart for my class, I needed to register for next semester....on and on and on all day. Up until now really.

But I'm back now, and I hope you didn't miss me too much.
♥

I'm Going Home!

Just wanted to pop in and tell you that right about now I'm on an airplane headed to sunny South Florida for a long awaited mini-vacay and wedding business trip.

On the Florida to-do list:

1. Taking mom to the location. She's never seen it, and its hard to talk about logistics, decor, etc when she doesn't have a visual. We will be fixing that tomorrow.

2. Talking to the caterer..ahem event planner. Again, mom has never met her, and we havent met since we met so it will be good to sit down with her, talk budget and making the menu more brunchy, give mom and I both the chance to ask a tons of questions (I already have a list), and just get on the same page since the wedding is less than a year away (ahh!).

3. Kick it with some of my people. Actually, 2 of my 'maids live in town. My maid of honor/best friend/podmate (were 2 peas in a pod) and one of my favorite teachers. Hmm, I havent really introduced you to them...I better get on that. Anyway, they are on the list and since they'll be standing with me on my big day, we can lump them into the wedding business category.

4. Recruit the other 5 kids that are going to be in our wedding. Yes, I said "other five." If all goes to plan, there will be 6 little ones in our wedding. Blame it on us not being able to choose. I love all my little cousins and I couldn't decide so I figured we'd just find little jobs for everyone. I haven't talked to their parents yet, but mom and I feel like everyone will be on board to participate.

5. Talk to our officiant. I mentioned how he called us out in church the other day (by announcing our wedding to the congregation) and how he hadnt officially told us yes. I'll see him on Sunday. And even if I have to get some smoke signals, I want to be able to say "Officiant? Check." No question mark.

6. Spend as much time as I can with my mama. As you may have surmised, mom is one of my best friends. Seriously. We talk all the time, and thanks to the PHI blinging me out, we talk quite a bit about our wedding. Consider her the co-wedding planner. So yes, mom did just make the wedding list on a technicality, but she is totally on there.

Whew, that's quite a list, huh. When I'm not "working" for the wedding, I plan to be chillaxing, kicking it with the family, doing some good for the alma mater, and enjoying being in south Florida. Unfortunately that means I wont be blogging. I'll be back on Sunday, so expect something from me late Monday or on Tuesday, k.

♥

I Think I Have an Event Planner

I know, what a random title for a post, but that’s seriously my thought. I think I have an event planner.

When I think of event planner, I (perhaps erroneously) think of a wedding planner. Which I don’t have. You get me. Patti = wedding planner. I also think of event/wedding coordinator – which I do have. Kind of. That’s for another post. But event planner? What is an event planner really? Someone who plans (or helps take care of the details) for the event. Okay, so maybe I do have one of those.

The whole reason I’m talking about this is because I’m going home on Thursday (so excited!) to take care of some wedding business. One of my first things: a hot date with the Himmel Theater and my contact Linda from Continental Catering. I usually call Linda my caterer, cause she’s that’s how I met her…when I started asking about catering. And she works for Continental Catering. But title on her email signature is “Event Planner.” Now that I think about it, she is handling not only the food, but the set up for the ceremony, transitioning the ceremony space to the reception space, and the timeframe that’s required for all of that to happen.

When I look at her that way, caterer seems like such an understatement. I remember when the PHI and I met her, she mentioned that she was the lady to handle the day of details (in addition to whomever is on my team). That was comforting at the time, and It’s still comforting today. I feel like my wedding (ahem event) is in good hands with Linda.

So ladies and gentlemen, I believe I have an event planner!
♥