The Wedding Blog
Monday, March 31, 2008
Projects: Venue, Publicity, Costuming
The best-laid plans. . . so after mass I went to speak to Father Rich, but he couldn't meet with us. Apparently, this week has been nasty with a couple of funerals and one more scheduled yesterday. Instead, he asked me to email him three dates in order of choice. I did so as soon as I got home, putting the 26th first and the 19th or 12th as second and third. I then went to see a client for a mental health hearing this morning. Late Sunday night, I got a call from the American Legion in Lone Tree. The woman had been out of town all week, and is leaving town again tomorrow. She indicated the following:
The venue is available the 12th or 19th. It rents for $950 for non-members, plus a $130 fee for an off-duty deputy they provide as security. Beer is $200 for a 16-gallon keg. We'd provide our own caterer.
At first analysis, this seems to not change the equation much: it has the priciness of Highlander, probably combined with the do-it-yourself of Hills. However, there are intangibles which place this in the running: it eliminates Ellen's creepiness factor, and it is (so I'm told) a really cool-looking venue. I also think I could get the Chicago relatives to go for it more readily than Hills despite it's being farther away from IC because it's off Highway 22 - the same one as the church - just in the other direction. That said, we still have the drinking and driving factor and who will drive us to whatever hotel, etc. So the logistics are as much of a nightmare as Hills. I'm hoping at that price that someone would be provided to serve beer and clean up, but I'm not holding my breath.
So I've left the email to Father Rich as is, with the 26th (Highlander) as my first choice. But at least I know that if someone has taken that date within the last ten days since I got the email from him with still-available dates, we have some options to work with on the 12th and 19th.
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I also visited the new Michael's store in Coralville, which is now open. My next project is invites, and I've already been doing some work on that. I'm going to make my own, most likely. If anyone is feeling particularly creative these days and wants to help with the process, I will certainly take you up on that. Right now, I'm in brainstorming mode:
DIY is my first instinct - invitations are freaking expensive. The range seems to be: Buy invitations pre-printed and pre-made for about $300-$350. Make my own for something less than that. Buy blank kits from Hobby Lobby or Michael's and print my own from their limited selection for about $120. The questions: how much DIY am I capable of taking on? I could conceivably buy plain cardstock in sheets and either print on my own design or even paint it, then cut it to fit and us it as the bottom layer; buy more sheets of plain cardstock, print the invite wording on, then attach with spray adhesive, and then buy two sets of plain envelopes and line the outer one myself using giftwrap cut to fit and attached again with spray adhesive. Or I could buy preprinted outer cards and plain inner cards, pre-done envelopes, then print the writing on, and slap them together. And how much of this is cost-effective - is buying preprinted cards just as expensive in the long run as the just-buy-the-whole-damn-thing-preprinted option? I suppose I'd spend a bit more than the kits to have something personalized. But I don't want to spend as much as the "have someone else do it all for you" price because that would be frankly stupid on my part.
Some stray ideas:
1) Use pre-cut cards: I could buy plain gold outer cards and plain ecru top cards and attach ribbon, like the one I saw below. Give up on using a pattern in the paper, pick it up in the bow instead.
2) I could buy the cards, but plain. With the outer cards, I could add a pattern using acrylic paint rag-rolled on, or by coloring them with pastels and spraying on fixative. Then I could print out the invites on the top card and attach a plain gold ribbon. Predone envelopes with a gold liner.
3) Use sheets of cardstock. I'd have to buy a good paper cutter, but I could use my computer to search out a pattern I like, photoshop it to my specifications, then print it on before I cut it, and do the same as above. My printer won't print to the edge, so it's not an option with pre-cut cards. Eliminates the paint and/or pastels. Reduces paper cost significantly.
All this needs to have the numbers run ASAP. Invites need to go out in May for a July wedding, and I'll need time to perfect any method I use so it doesn't look like a six-year-old did the inviting. I've not done paper arts before, so there's a learning curve. Ideas?
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As you know, I've got the dress. BTW, there were some small marks on it, as it was apparently a store sample and not new as advertised. However, Don's niece steered me toward that cleaner by the Arby's and Fin and Feather - can't recall the name - where the U of I costume shop takes all their delicates. She steamed out the mark in five minutes and didn't charge me.
So now I've got to look at alterations. First, it's snug, so I'm dieting. I'd like to get in shape anyway. This week, I've dropped three pounds so far. Not bad, for me. I lose and gain weight quite slowly. My plan: eat as little calories as I can stand while exercising 5-7 times a week. So far, I've averaged at about 1000 calories per day consumed, and 400 exercised off 5 out of 7 days. Not bad. At this rate, I should lose about 5 pounds per month, cutting it a little close but I don't want to compromise my health. Unless I plateau. In which case, you'll hear a virtual temper tantrum.
As far as bridesmaid dresses, I'd like to put it to a vote: black, or a color? I don't care what you wear, but it should all probably be the same color since this is a semi-formal thing. Originally, I said just bring a black dress, but I was also looking at doing it all in black, ivory, and gold. Now I'm adding lots of color - I did the monochromatic thing last time, and now it's summer and I want color. Black still works, 'cause it goes with everything. But maybe a color would be fun. So talk amoung yourselves - do you all want to stick with the "everybody wear whatever black dress they want" (it is easiest and very classy) or do you want to pick a color and all bring a dress that color? Whichever is absolutely fine with me.
The venue is available the 12th or 19th. It rents for $950 for non-members, plus a $130 fee for an off-duty deputy they provide as security. Beer is $200 for a 16-gallon keg. We'd provide our own caterer.
At first analysis, this seems to not change the equation much: it has the priciness of Highlander, probably combined with the do-it-yourself of Hills. However, there are intangibles which place this in the running: it eliminates Ellen's creepiness factor, and it is (so I'm told) a really cool-looking venue. I also think I could get the Chicago relatives to go for it more readily than Hills despite it's being farther away from IC because it's off Highway 22 - the same one as the church - just in the other direction. That said, we still have the drinking and driving factor and who will drive us to whatever hotel, etc. So the logistics are as much of a nightmare as Hills. I'm hoping at that price that someone would be provided to serve beer and clean up, but I'm not holding my breath.
So I've left the email to Father Rich as is, with the 26th (Highlander) as my first choice. But at least I know that if someone has taken that date within the last ten days since I got the email from him with still-available dates, we have some options to work with on the 12th and 19th.
I also visited the new Michael's store in Coralville, which is now open. My next project is invites, and I've already been doing some work on that. I'm going to make my own, most likely. If anyone is feeling particularly creative these days and wants to help with the process, I will certainly take you up on that. Right now, I'm in brainstorming mode:
DIY is my first instinct - invitations are freaking expensive. The range seems to be: Buy invitations pre-printed and pre-made for about $300-$350. Make my own for something less than that. Buy blank kits from Hobby Lobby or Michael's and print my own from their limited selection for about $120. The questions: how much DIY am I capable of taking on? I could conceivably buy plain cardstock in sheets and either print on my own design or even paint it, then cut it to fit and us it as the bottom layer; buy more sheets of plain cardstock, print the invite wording on, then attach with spray adhesive, and then buy two sets of plain envelopes and line the outer one myself using giftwrap cut to fit and attached again with spray adhesive. Or I could buy preprinted outer cards and plain inner cards, pre-done envelopes, then print the writing on, and slap them together. And how much of this is cost-effective - is buying preprinted cards just as expensive in the long run as the just-buy-the-whole-damn-thing-preprinted option? I suppose I'd spend a bit more than the kits to have something personalized. But I don't want to spend as much as the "have someone else do it all for you" price because that would be frankly stupid on my part.
Some stray ideas:
1) Use pre-cut cards: I could buy plain gold outer cards and plain ecru top cards and attach ribbon, like the one I saw below. Give up on using a pattern in the paper, pick it up in the bow instead.
2) I could buy the cards, but plain. With the outer cards, I could add a pattern using acrylic paint rag-rolled on, or by coloring them with pastels and spraying on fixative. Then I could print out the invites on the top card and attach a plain gold ribbon. Predone envelopes with a gold liner.
3) Use sheets of cardstock. I'd have to buy a good paper cutter, but I could use my computer to search out a pattern I like, photoshop it to my specifications, then print it on before I cut it, and do the same as above. My printer won't print to the edge, so it's not an option with pre-cut cards. Eliminates the paint and/or pastels. Reduces paper cost significantly.
All this needs to have the numbers run ASAP. Invites need to go out in May for a July wedding, and I'll need time to perfect any method I use so it doesn't look like a six-year-old did the inviting. I've not done paper arts before, so there's a learning curve. Ideas?
As you know, I've got the dress. BTW, there were some small marks on it, as it was apparently a store sample and not new as advertised. However, Don's niece steered me toward that cleaner by the Arby's and Fin and Feather - can't recall the name - where the U of I costume shop takes all their delicates. She steamed out the mark in five minutes and didn't charge me.
So now I've got to look at alterations. First, it's snug, so I'm dieting. I'd like to get in shape anyway. This week, I've dropped three pounds so far. Not bad, for me. I lose and gain weight quite slowly. My plan: eat as little calories as I can stand while exercising 5-7 times a week. So far, I've averaged at about 1000 calories per day consumed, and 400 exercised off 5 out of 7 days. Not bad. At this rate, I should lose about 5 pounds per month, cutting it a little close but I don't want to compromise my health. Unless I plateau. In which case, you'll hear a virtual temper tantrum.
As far as bridesmaid dresses, I'd like to put it to a vote: black, or a color? I don't care what you wear, but it should all probably be the same color since this is a semi-formal thing. Originally, I said just bring a black dress, but I was also looking at doing it all in black, ivory, and gold. Now I'm adding lots of color - I did the monochromatic thing last time, and now it's summer and I want color. Black still works, 'cause it goes with everything. But maybe a color would be fun. So talk amoung yourselves - do you all want to stick with the "everybody wear whatever black dress they want" (it is easiest and very classy) or do you want to pick a color and all bring a dress that color? Whichever is absolutely fine with me.
posted by Me at 3:42 AM
5 Comments:
Who all is in this wedding party?
I don't mind the black dress thing, I would just need to find a summer black dress. That almost sounds like a contradiction in terms.
If we do a color I would only ask not to use pink. I look terrible in pink. I know it's not my day, but to wear a dress that makes you look bad sucks, unless you are in a "real" stage production, if you know what I mean.
I just got a twisted idea. We should run the scene from one of the muppet movies. Somebodies getting married scene. ;-)
You, Ellen K, and Tracy. I believe from talking to her Tracy's vote is black, but I'll let her speak for herself. Like I said, I'm kind of leaning toward the colors in the ribbon, and black is fine 'cause it goes. Okay, pink is out.
I'd need lines if we're going to run the scene. And
I always said I'd never direct because it's too time consuming. . . .
No, I mean play it on a screen before you walk down the aisle. It's silly. I think Don would know what I am referring to.
I'm all for the black dress but I'll go with whatever is decided. I just don't look good in pink or any pastels for that matter.
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