When a Phoebe Marries a Chandler....

There's a serious lack of Monica. Truth: I have no absolute guest list. I've just recently started to try to put things together in Excel (which is both a cursed and blessed thing). I am still really confused about how to organize them. I'm really worried about people slipping through the cracks due to my scatterbrained method (or lack thereof). You see, I've just been too busy thinking about the creative things! Colors, food, decorations galore! I'm the Phoebe =). David, true to Chandler behavior, is constantly ducking out of any preparation and plans to just show up and party the day of. (Admit it David, you know it's true, hehe!)

So, now I have a list of about 300 guests. No prob, I was expecting this--more acutally. I just know a much smaller number will be coming. I'm guessing about 200 or 150 RSVP (or, come, rather since no one RSVPs). What I DID realize, is that even with 300 or so expected guests, the actual number of invitations I need to send out is sitting at 121!! In retrospect, it was very silly of me to think I'd need an invite for every guest! That's hardly any at all! So, I've hopped on over to Mercucio Bros. again to reconfigure my price of invites at this new lower number and I'll go into that a bit more on another post, but, for now, I will remain on the subject of guest lists.

First of all, thank God I'm not having arranged seating. That would be a whole other level of stress I can't deal with. I already feel like I need a ton of separate lists as it is! The "They are definitely invited" list, the "I can cut those guys if I need to" list, the "needs a hotel" list, the "I need to double check these names with my mother" list, and so on and so forth. I may end up writing everything down on notecards...then I could sort them into different piles...but what if people need to be in more than one pile?! And don't even get me started on collecting addresses! Oh dear....this part of wedding planning is too confusing.

Speaking of Phoebe and Chandler, here's a great moment:

If the A.D.D. quality of this post doesn't attest to my disorganization, I don't know what does...

Bridal Bargain Finds!!

Okay, so, as many of you know, I'm going through some Black Friday withdrawals. I love love finding good deals. Now, although I cannot participate this year, I decided to scour the internet for great finds to satisfy my thirst for money-saving....hehehe.

Many Bargain Brides know that the internet can be your best friend in looking for deals. I'm not just talkin' Etsy, either. Wholesale sites are the BOMB. In my ventures I've come across some great stuff, and I wanted to share it with any brides lookin' to save a few bucks on the essentials!

Votives and overlays were things I left next to big fat question marks on my budget list. I could not figure out how much they would cost, or if I'd rent some linens...I just had no idea. After I started adding things up, however, I saw overlays were unpleasantly high when you need 25. I tried finding other brides who wanted to share them or something of the sort, but no luck! (PS, still up for sharing if anyone out there is up for it!) BUT I found the cheapest champagne satin table runners, possibly on the face of this earth. How cheap? 25 for $63.50. Yeah, that's right. I found them here www.efavormart.com.

Votives? Why should I pay so much for mood lighting?? No problem. www.candles4less.com sells votives *with* the candles for about 50 cents a piece! They have a bunch of different colors, all for the same price--check it out!

I have one more bridal bargain to share with you, but I don't think I'll be using them personally. Before, I was pretty set on have lanterns as centerpieces and these commonly used lanterns:

Are about 2 dollars cheaper at www.superwholesaler.com than they are at most other *wholesale sites*. Honestly, I've seen these things (and similar lanterns sold at the site) go for *way* more on ebay! A bride could actually make a profit doing this!

Anyhow, that's all I got for now! These finds really trimmed down my budget and let me expand my invitation budget a bit more comfortably...I know my original idea was to spend very, very little on those, but with a little wiggle room, I think I can spring for some envelopes with the gold foil! Weee! =D

Erin and David's Greatest Hits Part *3*! SURPRISE!!

Yep, it's true. I realized after promising only two music posts, that I still have more to address on the musical front! So, hold on tight--here we go again!

Okay, I addressed the ceremony music and TOTALLY forgot the reception! So, first of all being a modern-day budget bride usually entails nixing bands and DJs. This is a budget cut I'm definitely okay with. DJ's tend to make me feel uncomfortable and bands can be kinda limited in what they play. Nowadays, thanks to the miracle invention of mp3's, couples can have what has been deemed "The iPod Wedding." You give a charismatic friend a mic and a playlist and dance the night away without paying an extra penny! Anywho, with that explanation out of the way let me reveal a few key songs.

The Big Entrance Number:

Option 1:

Good Lovin' -- The Rascals

Option 2:

Pop Goes My Heart -- Music and Lyrics Soundtrack

Ok, ok, don't hate. I wasn't a fan of this movie, to be honest, but the spunky upbeat 80's sound and silliness of it all goes hand in hand with David and me!

The Father-Daughter Dance:

First of all, let me say that I find it weird to pick out the song you dance with your father to, because I kinda feel like I'm putting words in his mouth. So, I would definitely want to get his opinion on this matter. Buuut, pending approval, I give you "daddy-daughter song to make people cry,"

If I Had My Way -- Mills Brothers

Our First Dance:

Alright, this one is a surprise to be disclosed later, but for consolation, I give you ...

Our Recessional!

Okay.....now I think I'm finished with music....for now...

Erin and David's Greatest Hits Part 2

Ok, so, I already told y'all about the instrumental portion of our ceremony (well, as much as I have planned so far) by the fantastic Will Aufrict and noooow, I'm going to introduce my secret weapon number 2: my bridesmaid and HS BFF, Meredith! (It's true, I am lucky enough to have this many musically gifted friends--I have more!)

For those who don't know, Meredith has an amaaaazing voice! I would love to give you a taste, but evidentially, there are no videos I could find of her! **cough cough** get on that, Mere **cough cough** The biggest decision I've been trying to make however, is what she will sing during the ceremony. The original song I had picked out was "Always" by Irving Berlin. Now, this one isn't totally off the table. It's sooo beautiful and sweet. But, as always, I'm feeling rather indecisive!

Here's a rendition by Old Blue Eyes...

I have a few other songs that I really liked and I thought about having Mere and Will team up and having them do a really cool cover of a good classic--maybe Queen!

I Was Born to Love You:

or You're My Best Friend:

I decided "Born to Love You" might be a good parent or grandparent processional-piano-only song. "Best Friend" is definitely still an option and it's just so cute! However, there's one particular song that is in the lead.

It started when I fell in LOVE with Kay Starr. I heard her song "If You Love Me, Really Love Me" and thought it captured a perfect image of how I felt about David.

I found out a while later that it was originally a French song from the one and only Edith Piaf. So, I hunted down the French version and given Meredith's classical background, I know she can really nail the pronunciation. This is a different artist performing the song. Not that I couldn't find Edith's version, but I think this girl's voice is much closer to Meredith's.

Now, why would I do the French version instead? I'm not 100% sure why it appeals to me more. Maybe because that's how it was originally written or because out of some musical respect for Edith Piaf, or maybe just because I know Meredith could do it well! Who knows? Either way, I think I'm leading towards the French...It is the language of love, right? =) I still have a lot of narrowing down to do...

Anyway, sorry for the sporadic posting! I'm in ISTANBUL! =D

Erin and David's Greatest Hits Part 1

Just so you guys know, I love music. I love it so much, I'm devoting two posts to it. So, here's part one!

Okay, I'm totally cool with the traditional music, but I knew I wanted something different. Specifically I wanted a different bridal processional tune. I moved around a lot on what I really wanted and finally I decided I wanted to do a piano cover of "Til There Was You" from The Music Man/The Beatles. I searched and searched for a good recording but none of them sounded like I wanted. I DID however find a beautiful version on YouTube! This, this is what I wanted above all else:

But, how to get that song at my wedding with no sheet music or real recording? Enter my friend Will, piano god.

He wrote that song. Yeah. He wrote others too (look 'em up on iTunes) but that is my favorite! Anyhow, Will agreed to play for my wedding ceremony! When I get back to the states will work out an arrangement like the one I found on YouTube! Also, I want other fun songs to make piano covers of! I'm thinking "Stuttering" by Ben's Brother....

I gave David the assignment of finding good modern songs to cover...he doesn't enjoy wedding planning much, but I figure that's a fair request, right?

A Very Merry Un-Honeymoon!

So, as many of you know (and many who don't) David is in the Air Force. He is stationed in California. This means every time he comes to Texas, he has to take leave. He'll take one week this December for Christmas where I will get to see him again (yay!) and another two weeks for the wedding: one week before the big day, one week after. Now, post-wedding, I have to move my car and all my other things up to California. The original plan was to honeymoon, and then fly back separately. David wouldn't be able to take off more leave to drive back with me.

It really made me kinda sad to think we had to start off our marriage in the same ol' long distance-esqe manner--even for just a few days. So, I ran my idea by him for a "un-honeymoon." He would use his leave to roadtrip back with me and we can have a real honeymoon when he gets out. He said yes! He thought it was a great idea. =) He also suggested we shack up a few days in his grandparents vacation house in Ruidoso along the way!

To be honest, the whole idea sounds so perfect, I don't really care if we ever do get to a beach! After 3 years long distance, anywhere he is is the perfect place to be.

The Imaginary Kid's Corner

So, after recieving the guest list from my FMIL and seeing the number of "and 2 kids" I decided, although I'm sure many won't stay for the reception, to have a kid's corner. Unfortnately, I made this decision way way way too far away from my venue. So, truth be told, I'm not 100% sure where this kid's corner will be.... On top of that, I have put forth no budget plan for said corner, and I have no true idea how many young children will be attending.

So, Erin, you may ask, what do you have?

Bunting.

Mega-fun fabric bunting I bought from here: http://brideandgroomgaragesale.blogspot.com/

Yep. I have about 36 feet of this perfectly color coordinated fabric bunting. I plan to hang it in the kid's corner. I know, I know. It was a bit of an impulse buy. But, I stand by the fact that I can certainly: A) hang it around my dessert bar or somewhere else and B) resale it! Right? Right.

But, first and foremost, it will be for my kid's corner. I was thinking of just covering the table with butcher paper, give them plenty of crayons...yeah...something... I'm still in the planning stage, okay? =)

Regardless, I'm deeply in love with little pendant-y things. I want to hang them place, stick them in sweets, and if I had a flower girl I'd definitely give her one of these:

Anyway, at least I was able to buy the bunting resale. Second-hand wedding supplies are this girl's best friend!

Confessions of a Budget Bride

So, my budget for my wedding is $10,000. For some people it seems like bookoos of money and for others, you probably passed out just thinking of how to stretch that amount that far. It depends a lot on the region and what you expect do have in your wedding. First of all, I plan on having a lot of guests, probably 200 or so. I also want to have drinks, dancing, and plenty of food. Once you start adding things up for this number of people, even in my fairly cheaper region of West Texas, things start to get tight. So, to have all the things I want and stay within my budget, I have to focus on finding the bargain.

So, you wanna know my secret? Ok, come closer.....closer.....too close! A little too close!



(Sorry, couldn't pass it up!) Ok, the truth is...I love being a budget bride. I know I may eat my words later, but I love how much of my wedding is DIY! For those who don't know, we're doing our own flowers and catering, and I couldn't be more thrilled to try stuff out and decorate! Not to mention, bargain hunting is pretty much my favorite sport. I'm in physical pain that I'm missing Black Friday this year. (Yes, I'm one of those crazies) I've already found quite a few good deals and I know I'll find more! One of them is Sam's Club bulk flowers. The reviews are amazing and I recently found another "bee" (weddingbee.com user) that used them for her wedding. They were GORGEOUS and she gave me some tips on how many to buy and even a cheap place to buy floral supplies! The hydrangeas were great and the prices will knock you flat!


I think I may order a practice pack when I get back home so Mom and I can work on some centerpieces. Plus, did I mention that one of my girls Cortney and her mom Tonjua are pretty much experienced florists? Well, they've worked on a few weddings in their time (including Cort's!) And I'm thinkin' things are going to turn out great!

I can't wait to get back to the states and hash out some more deals, maybe haggle with some vendors. Also, I'm thinking about cafe lights and/or bunting....we'll see what happens there! =)

A Note on Originality

Hey! You remember that one time? That I thought I was being really original?

Yeah....me too....

You see, I have this super urge to make our wedding different; that our wedding should be a super-special-snowflake. I want something about it to really stick out or just be totally unique! But, it seems like every time I turn around--there are 30 other brides thinking the same thing and it just throws my snowflake of a wedding into flaming furnace!

It totally happened this way with the colored shoes. I thought "Oh, how different! Blue shoes for my something blue! I love shoes, it will be so fun and original!" And now colored shoes are practically the standard! Sigh, it can just really get a girl down.

In all honesty, I have no reason to complain. I roam around sites like weddingbee.com and theknot.com snooping for new ideas others have found. I guess I have to accept the fact that a 100% original idea is a little irrational. The best I can do is throw a slammin' party for my friends and family! (Yes, I know. I said "slammin'"....please don't judge) I know that there are probably plenty of people outside of the wedding blogoshpere attending my wedding that have never seen a color-shoed bride or a cameo cake topper! Right? Originality can be pretty relative, I guess....and hey, I did come up with the cameo thing all my own! ;)