lyrebard

I'm having a lapse in faith about this whole going-away-to-get-hitched thing. It seemed like such a good idea at the time: we're not "formal event" kind of people, our families live on opposite coasts so meeting in the "middle" seemed smart, and we just wanted a big vacation with our favorite people. But now so many things are happening that are just making me feel totally defeated: - His parents are coming (we're buying their plane tickets are were planning to pay for their hotel) but they may not even stay at our hotel, instead thinking of staying at an AI about 40 minutes away (!) with another one of their kids and 1-year old granddaughter. So much for a group vacation! - His favorite relative and her family, who were all RSVP'd "yes," are having a hard time because she was just diagnosed with breast cancer - My grandparents are coming (we're buying them 1st class tickets and paying for their hotel), but now I'm worried that the trip will take a big toll on them (they're 88 years old) - I'm sick and tired of thinking about decorations and money and to-do lists - One by one, friends who were near-guarantees are having to back out due to other obligations (job, baby, sick family members, etc.) - We're having the reception somewhere not particularly well-known, so finding people to provide advice and talk about their experience has been really, really hard. It all just seems to be just one big PITA right now. And since the boy is finishing up med school and dealing with exams, and more exams, and 24-hour call every 5 days or so, I'm having to do most of the planning by myself. It's strange, but I guess I'm just feeling more alone and sad and overwhelmed than I am motivated and excited. Someone tell me this is temporary? That you've gone through this stage and come out the other side feeling excited again? That it'll all be worth it in the end? Because right now it's feeling awfully hard to see the forest for the trees.

Ok, that's hilarious. But now what are you going to do with all that...erm...stuff? lol.

Carrie, That's a great price for silk-screening. I bet that a lot of people on here might be interested in sending business your brother's way, if he's interested. Think he would be?? I'm considering buying totes and having them silkscreened locally, but can't find a good silkscreener... -L

Or here? Paper Mart Packaging Store - Regular Kraft Grocery Bags Papermart is good for all kinds of things. =)

Hi Savannah, I know you've been looking for months and months, and it sounds like you have a pretty distinct idea of what you want your dress to look like. Rather than buy a pricey dress knowing that you also want really pricey alterations, have you thought about finding a dressmaker to make a dress to your specifications? Might be worth checking out, and less expensive to boot! Just a thought...

I was there in October, and I had no problem (provider: T-mobile) texting people back in the States. The friend I was with, however, had Sprint and despite multiple calls to Sprint representatives before she left was unable to get them to set up international service for her. I think difficulty might vary depending on your provider. Call Sprint and see what they say. And if they tell you "of course" I'd love to know about it!!!

I'm pretty sure it's a size 8, but I'll double check and then maybe post in in the stuff for sale section. Until I posted the above, I hadn't even thought about how many people might be interested in aqua dresses on here! (In fact, I'm having drinks with two of the other bridesmaids tonight, and I'll ask if they'd be interested in selling theirs, too.)

hmm....I was the maid of honor for a friend's wedding last year, and don't think I'll ever wear the aqua again. Pretty sure it's silk...maybe I'll dye it! Unless, of course, anyone here would be interested in an aqua Kathlin Argiro v-neck silk halter dress?

We wouldn't be using them for the salsa lesson...might just do a CD for that. Good to have feedback, thanks. This is something we hadn't even begun thinking about yet, but need to as we need to sign contracts with the musicians! I love the idea of jazz. Were you imagining ballroom-type dancing to go with it?

We actually used fabric glue, like Fabri-Tac (sp?), which was recommended by the invite designer who sent us the paper. It worked great and gave us a bit of wiggle room: if we didn't get the paper on straight at first, we could push it around slightly until it was aligned the way we wanted it. It's really cool stuff, actually--a bit stringy, but when it dries it's like the rubber tacky glue strips that they use to attach pamphlets inside magazines. (Does that make sense??)

Quote: Originally Posted by Sunsierra Thanks for all the wonderful comments!!! lyrebard - the vials are bubbles that we made. On the sticker we printed "Blow bubbles of well wishes for the new Mr. & Mrs." Super easy!! But if you get the vials, I suggest taking the bubble fluid out while they're on the plane and putting it back in once you get there (we did this) - good thing cause a few of them popped open! LOL. That is too funny. For some reason, what was in the vials looked like sand. We have been thinking of a different way to do a sand ceremony, and this picture made me think that it might be neat to hand out small vials (or even testtubes, as both the Boy and I come from a science background) for people to scoop up sand with and deposit into a larger vase. Love the bubbles. And I think I love the sand idea, too. thanks!!!

It's interesting, with so many people headed down there and planning events these days that the WCs haven't gotten around to creating samplers of different bands/trios/soloists that they can send to their guests. I see potential here for someone to do that and charge a nice little fee for it... =) I have had the same problem. I heard only one band's sampler, and it was straight from my WC's laptop when we met with her. She had no samples from other musicians, and didn't have a way to send the one she had to me so that the Boy could hear it (he wasn't able to make the trip). This whole going-on-blind-faith thing is scary when you're shelling out so much money! However, in thinking about it, you might be right. I'm now thinking: ceremony cocktail hour with soloist guitar salsa lesson after cocktails (so separates appetizers from dinner, and people will have time to get hungry again?) iPod/CDs during: -soup course -salad course -dinner band plays a set dessert (cupcakes!) band plays another set haven't figured out timing for all that, though. what do you think? starting to get away from the idea of dancing between courses...

Quote: Originally Posted by Sunsierra Okay, I must know what this is a picture of. I have a guess, and I think it just gave me a really good idea, but tell me! What are these little vials? (Oh, and gorgeous pics, of course!!!)

Well, "dessert" basically consists of people grabbing cupcakes. =) we're not doing a cake cutting, as I hate being the center of attention and there doesn't seem to be any particularly good symbolic reason for it. (I'm a sucker for symbolism and tradition, lol.) So 15 minutes might be ample! The band we're talking to is Balance La Banda, recommended by Matt Adcock and someone else (can't remember who!). We only want Latin music, and the samples and repertoire that's up on their website (Balance la Banda - Downloads) seem to fit what we're looking for. They're larger than we think we need (6 people?) but I just like the idea of infusing energy into the evening since we won't be playing music that most people know. I think we've been to too many weddings with the chicken dance and electric slide, so we're looking to do this a bit differently. I was even considering no band, no music, but I think that would confuse people and besides, I love music too much! I really like the idea of a jazz band, and think it would be great during dinner. but since we're thinking of offering a salsa lesson, seems like Balance would be the way for us to go. What kinds of prices were you getting for the jazz band sets? -L

Hmm...between the cocktail hour and first course? Another good possibility. I think I like that. Problem is, we're sorta struggling with what to do, music-wise. I'd really like a live band, but the one I'd like is pretty pricey and we can only afford a couple hours. I was thinking that if we wanted to hire a solo guitarist for the ceremony, perhaps we could ask him to play two sets, one during the ceremony and one for cocktails? But then what? iPod/CDs during meals? Does two hours of band make sense, if one set comes after dinner and one after dessert? Then what do we do between the salad course and dinner? I worry that with appetizers during the cocktail hour, people won't be hungry enough to eat all three courses in a row. ack!

Hrm. I'm thinking it would be nice to do something *similar* but slightly different. We're looking into doing a salsa lesson for our guests, and seems as if doing that between courses might work. Maybe. What would you think of a schedule like this, post-cocktails? Soup course Salad course - salsa lesson- dinner - one band set - dessert - second band set - ?

I accidentally stumbled across the one in NYC last year or the year before--went there to buy gloves, and was surprised by a sea of white. It was around 7:00 PM (they're open until 9:00 or 10:00) and remarkably quiet and calm. There were thousands of dresses, and only a few people going through them. I can't speak for DC, but as far as the NYC one goes, I think you'll be fine if you wait until evening, until the mad rush is over. In fact, you'll probably feel much less pressure and be able to go through dresses at your leisure, instead of feeling as if there's another girl hovering over your shoulder ready to grab a dress if you don't want it!

Thanks, nylalany. I was kinda afraid that the shipping would cancel out the savings. It's too bad, as it's a nice bag and seems to be pretty much what I've been looking for. Gar! Foiled again.

Whatever happened to this attempt to bulk order? Is it still alive? Is anyone pursuing it?

Quote: Originally Posted by nylalany lyrebard - are you getting married by a rabbi? or a friend? or a judge? would love to hear what jewish elements you are incorporating into your ceremony! Heh...it's rather a funny story, really. The things we're incorporating are only ones that aren't identifiably Jewish: the chuppah that we're not calling a chuppah, the ketubah that's a hybrid of the jewish wedding contract and a quaker wedding certificate. I'm actually still looking for other traditions that I can bring in that won't raise his athiest hackles. If you have ideas, I'd love to hear them! We're having two friends marry us: my oldest childhood friend (who's internet certified to declare us married, and will likely marry us officially just before we leave or just after we get back), and his closest friend from college. We figured that we wanted the people up there officiating to be the people who know us best! =)

It's so interesting to read all of these. When I was young, I never felt that attached to my last name. In fact, I thought it sounded kinda funny. But as I grew older, I began to think about how I was the last one left from my dad's side of the family with his name. Now, I can't imagine giving it up. It's nearly all I have left of my family, and I'm pretty attached to it, funny-sounding and all. I have no problems with my partner's last name. But it's relatively common and, as a journalist, I like that I have a name that's relatively unique. As far as I know, I'm the only one out there with this name. I might take his last name as my middle name, but that's about as far as I'd go. Wonder if I can convince him to do the same with mine?

You might also search uner the term "jewel picks" (see here: Set of 12, Small Jewel Picks) These guys have great stuff, but I was taken advantage of at their actual brick & mortar store. Maybe their web store is easier to deal with? (Apparently it's run by different people.)

Many of the companies will let you write your own text--we're hoping to do that, as he's catholic-turned-athiest and I'm jewish-turned-i don't even know. And many seem to require about 6 weeks, but can do rush jobs, too. We're looking for quirky rather than traditional, and found interesting ones here: Ketubah, Jewish Wedding, Marriage, Chuppah, Huppah, Mazel Tov And here: Ketubot - ketubah STUDIO and ketubah 4 less And here (these are really cool and unique, as they're both printed and sewn): New Ketubah: Handcrafted Modern Ketubah Design by Tsilli Pines Interested to hear if you have any luck! -L

I'd really love to see Natasha's list, too. Has anyone come up with it?

Alyssa, what did you end up deciding on for your Ketubah/Quaker wedding certificate? Or have you found something yet? I was actually looking to do a combination of the two, something that has spaces for all our guests (all 50 or so) to sign as witnesses. If you're still looking, I have a few recommendations... Cheers!