Katie's Planning Thread!

[*kellis*]

(Formerly Future Mrs. Kt Ellis)

 

My turn! Well, better late then never. I did what I always do and put off starting to write my planning thread until AFTER the planning:)

So here goes, hope you all enjoy. I'll be adding more pictures as I get them.(My own camera battery charger went missing sometime in the weekend so this is a mash up of pictures I took before the wedding, pictures other people sent me, and some low quality ones from my phone camera.)

 

Engagement

We were window shopping over a year ago and he talked me into trying on rings "for fun". I fell in love with this ring, he came back two days later with his mom and bought it:) I knew he had the ring hidden(having to move it around due to my snooping) in our apartment for 3 months before he asked. And he still managed to surprise me. Matt popped the question on a camping trip for HIS birthday. He asked for a beer which I (reluctantly) got up to get him. I turned around and he was kneeling(impressive considering he's had surgery on both knees) in front of the campfire with the ring.

(best picture I have, with my wedding band)

 

Engagement Pictures

Kara at Illuminated Moments was amazing, so bummed she couldn't do our wedding pictures. She also did my boudoir shoot as well.

 

Save The Date

Vistaprint is probably my new best friend. We got 50 free STDs magnets, a couple sheets of return labels, and a personalized canvas tote bag that I used so much during the planning for less then 10 bucks, for shipping. The magnets were a little flimsy so we put them on a piece of cardstock and they still worked great.

 

Location

After having to compromise and give up our dream of having a beach wedding due to our family's traveling restrictions, we stumbled upon our resort while driving around in Scottsdale. We walked in and felt like we were in another country. It definitely felt like a destination wedding even though it was only 40 minutes away from our house.

Intercontinental Montelucia, Paradise Valley AZ

 

We're getting married in Castillo Lucena, the wedding chapel at the resort. With cocktail reception in the plaza.

 

-set up for our actual reception-

[*kellis*]

Invitations

My brother is a graphic designer and did our invites as a wedding present to us. They were modern and simple.

 

Wedding Attire

Dress

I fell in love with this dress the first time I saw it. I second guessed myself a few times but every time I put this dress on it convinced me even more.

 

Hair

(Hair Trial-flowers in place of where a clip was going and pre-veil decision)

(Day of)

My veil was by Etsy seller BellaBridalVeils

I got the ivory waterfall wedding bridal veils scattered Swarovski crystals.

 

Shoes

last minute find on Zappos.com. For someone who loves shoes I had a terrible time finding wedding shoes.

 

Jewelry

Earrings were a gift, Vera Wang at Kohls. My "something blue".

Necklace was a christmas gift from FI the first year we were together. I didn't want much and it had sentimental value.

 

Garter from Etsy seller Crystal Creations by Jen.

 

After-wedding undies:)

[*kellis*]

Wedding Rings

Mine was from Ben Bridge, I knew i wanted something simple that I could wear always wear, even if it wasn't safe or smart to wear my engagement ring there(such as the beach).

His was from DirectBuy(picture is kinda funny but we were bored on the plane ride to HI)

 

Bridesmaid's Dresses

We got a great deal on these at DressBarn of all places. MOH dress was from White House Black Market(awesome store)

(sorry for the creepy faces, couldn't figure out a better way to blur their faces)

 

Flower Girls

One was a crazy find at David's Bridal for half off five minutes before they closed, the other was ordered from Dillards.com

 

Guy's outfits

FI insisted on tuxes for all of them. They got them at Men's Wearhouse, shirts were ivory and vests and ties are "Fern".

Ushers had silver vest and the dads had black vests and ties.

They were all very warm, but their choice I guess:)

 

Flowers

My bouquet was Peonies, cymbidium orchids, sweet peas, and some other flowers I can't remember off the top of my head. It was surrounded by banana leaves. My flowers were possibly my favorite part of everything(other then marrying him of course)

 

Guys had single orchid boutonnieres

Bridesmaids Gifts/Flowers

We got these from Etsy seller hairbowswonderworld, dupioni silk roses, pearls, and vintage pins and buttons.

 

Groomsman Gift

Cigars in cigar cases from Things Remember

 

Welcome Bags

Stamped Paper bags from Michaels

Contents included...

Welcome note

Water bottles

Bunch a Crunch

Arizona Highways magazine

Toys for rooms with kids

Candy

First aid kit

Sunscreen

Alka Seltzer

Shout wipes

After sun gel

 

Our Guestbook

A wrapped canvas portrait from our engagement shoot that we had people sign, it turned out better then even I expected it.

This is how it turned out

 

Escort Cards

We stamped pre-cut name cards with a sepia design, carved a slit in the corks(which we saved up over the year not in 3 months, that's my story lol) and sanded the bottoms. They were displayed in front of the chapel during the cocktail hour in a tray filled with lentils(sounds weird, but looked awesome). One of my favorite DIY ideas.

 

Menus

This was a last minute decision and I'm so glad we did it. We got a great Brides self print invitation set at Michael's(with a 40% off coupon of course) and just tweaked the supplied template a little. I was so excited with how they turned out. We even made kid's menus with the RSVP cards in the set for the four little girls at the reception.

 

Favors

Ivory boxes from Michael's filled with green and pearl m&ms and fortune cookies with a thank you message, tied with a dark green ribbon(do yourself a favor and buy more then enough ribbon if you're doing a project like this so you aren't driving around to different stores trying to match colors when you run out) and a little thank you charm.

 

Decor

We got these great wax vessels that look like candles but you put the candle inside them so they just glow, they were lined down the aisle on rose petals(another DIY project, we got 5 bunches of costco roses that morning and had the girls take the petals off, saved a ton of money but took a little time) then they were used in groups on the tables. When I have pictures of the centerpieces I will post them. They were groups of the candles with alternating clear vases filled with tempered glass(looked like ice) topped with floating gardenias(they smelled amazing!) on an olive green natural silk table square.

[Pictures to come]

[AishaB]

I love everything! Your hair looked gorgeous. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

[SDSteph]

Beautiful job! I love your dress, hair invites.....I just love it all! Ha ha I am in love with a redhead too! hehehe

[Cindy*]

Everything looks beuatiful. I love your dress and your hair, both looked fantastic on you. Congratulations on your wedding!

[Thomasjsgirl]

Everthing looks amazing! I love your ring, it's very beautiful

[keng31]

I love your wedding band! I think I want something simple like that, too. Great idea for the escort cards!

[emilyk78]

Everything turned out gorgeous!

[hockeymom97]

Great planing thread, thanks for sharing!! And I absolutely love your hair!!