URGH!!!!!!!

Okay, so its come to my attention that I've got too much time on my hands! I had wedding take 1 planned.. all I needed was execution. I have to think that a sane person would taken those plans that she "LOVED" and just executed them for wedding take 2. Originally, that was the plan; just with a location change.

But I've been a BAD BAD girl... I have found some truly amazing DIY blogs {which is crazy cause me and the internet do not get along!} I've read them from first post to most recent and have in turn absorbed so many ideas I now don't even know where to begin!!

People, I'm in the middle of a crisis of faith!! I am doubting everything I thought I loved and the people I knew could help me pull it off!! {Last night I seriously had the thought that I should hire 2 photographers! Obviously, they would both be semi-professionals, one with a talent for portraits and the other photojournalism. It would still cost me less than 1 professional photog but who in their right mind thinks such a thing??} What's a girl to do when she has taken in too much?

I'm taking a weekend hiatus from the internet, that's what! I'm going to do what I've always done and make list after list after list in order to really decide what I like, what I love, what I have to have & what I would like to have. If I had the time and money to do it all I would, but we are on a VERY tight budget and there is just no way for me to have everything I have seen and fallin' into lust with!

Ceremony style!

This is the space where I am getting "married". As you can see its long and narrow. So I'm thinking up ways to make the space still have the romantic feel that this picture (courtesy of www.FrazierMuseum.org) shows but also have fun and throw in some quirky elements. For starters the aisle itself is to thin! This picture appears to have 20 rows of 10 chairs each. That's double the amount of guests we will be hosting so I'm thinking we can reduce it to 13 rows of 8 in order to 1. keep the aisle long and 2. widen it.

There is a couple of reasons why I would like to widen this aisle; for starters my MoH is shy & the thought of walking down an aisle by herself doesn't appeal to her very much. Of course she's willing to do whatever I want cause she loves us and knows that this will be our day! While I appreciate that A TON, I am considering different ways of having the girls walk down the aisle.... I'm going to have 1 maid of Honor and 2 bridesmaids. I'm not really a fan of the escort walk and I don't really know why because I don't mind it as part of the recessional but as part of the processional I'm just not a fan. I saw this in the movie "How to Deal" (this is a screen shot from the trailer. "How to Deal" 2003) and I kinda dig it; its different.. All 3 girls would walk at the same time, in a triangle shape down the aisle. It would save time with the walk (have you ever been to a wedding and it seems like the processional down the aisle took longer than the actual ceremony.. I hate that) and although she would be in the front (though as I write this I'm thinking she could probably be in the back and it would be the same difference) she would not be walking by herself.

Another reason to widen the aisle... aisle markers! I LOVE them...I've seen a lot of pretty pictures where the bride has had pomanders made and tied to the chairs and there have been plenty of really cute pew cones but I'm looking for the quirk factor... SO I found this centerpiece inspiration (have had this pic for awhile; if you are the owner please let me know and I will give proper credit) that I am considering using. I've never seen anything like it before at a wedding and I really think that it'll add that unique aspect to the ceremony decor. Plus, this seems like a pretty straight forward DIY & Old Tyme Pottery is always having a sale on their tall vases. Of course I'd be using blue or purple sand and I don't really know what flowers I would use but I think it would look amazing marking the aisle. The only thing I worry about is if the aisle would look too plain with just these fabulous markers. So, the next thing that comes to mind is that I'm also a huge fan of candles! The more candles in any given space the better! I came across this picture (www. bridalbliss.blogspot.com) and I really like it. The first thought that runs through my head is, "OMG, what if someone knocks over the candles?!" So I'm currently on the look out for some battery operated pillar candles. I'll have to limit the number of candles because of this (fake candles are expensive) but I think it'll help add to the mood and anchor the other markers perfectly. One last thing... Now that I've done all this "work" to the aisle, what am I going to do about the front of the room?? In the picture it appears that this couple choose to just use two big plants. For this particular set up I think it looks really nice but I'm not sure two plants will be enough after everything that is happening with the aisle. But what to do?? There really isn't anything in the front of the room. I'm thinking maybe something like this Huppah! (another photo I got from bridalbliss) Neither, my husband or I are Jewish but I love the meaning behind this + this particular one is simple, and another DIY that won't be hard to pull off. The simplicity of it is what I like the best... it will add something to the front of the room without taking away from the statement making aisle markers. Of course all of this is just thoughts in the brain... still no final decisions made. Maybe rose petals and an aisle runner is all anyone needs?!

LOVE IT!!!

Okay, so as savvy and crafty as I love to be, some times (when it comes to the initial research of things) I'm just lazy!! {I'm not afraid to admit it =D} And I don't know if anyone is even bothering to read this but if you stumble upon my "journal" and you are a bride-to-be and you haven't been to http://queencitybride.blogspot.com you have NO idea what you are missing! I love this blog!! She posts about anything she finds interesting (even things she won't be doing/using in her own wedding). Its like she's reading my mind. I love the ideas and will be using several for our celebration. Pics to come in due time! Just thought ya'll should know! =)

Styles, Themes & Colors.

Ok, so to be completely honest, for the longest time {and by that I mean up until about 5 minutes ago} I thought all three of these were the exact same thing... and I guess in the long run of things they are but "when your just starting to plan defining all 3 is a really great way of figuring out exactly what you want to accomplish." So, I thought, "what the hay, I'll try to define them" .. as it turns out, it wasn't so easy. At least not for me.

Style: So I thought extra long and hard on this one... This was really hard for me, not really sure why. Anyway, What I've come up with is: Casual Elegance!

Theme: So... a theme.... Hmmmmmm. While I adore themes for birthday parties and other events, I don't know how I feel about having a specific theme for a wedding. Maybe I'm taking the word "theme" too literal? I want my ceremony and reception to simply convey a feeling. A feeling of fun and quirkiness, with a dash of romance.

Colors: Colors have always been a HUGE debate for us. We go back and forth a lot. The original color scheme was Chocolate, Lime & Champagne. I love this color scheme but honestly its not really us. I don't even remember how we got to those colors! This time we are going with colors that are much more us and that fit with the venue that we're decided on: Navy Blue, Dark Purple & Gray.

Here are some inspiration boards I found on Google:

Ceremony & Reception Location!

So I hate the idea of having my ceremony and reception in two different places. I know a lot of people do it and there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with it, maybe I'm just lazy but I love the convenience of the "one stop shop". All encompassing is not needed; I just want a great place {by great I mean a place with a view, a place with a relaxed feel, a place with a great coordinator} that we feel comfortable at and that has space for both our ceremony and reception.

In my last post I made mention that I had found a place that I thought had all these qualities. The only thing I was waiting for was for the Hubs to hop on board... & he has! It took a lot less convincing than I thought it would take and I'm extremely happy about it. We haven't booked the location yet because they don't book events this far in advance but we have a decision and we know exactly when we can book so that the space can't be taken from us.

Everyone want to know what place we chose???? Its a secret! =) No, I'm just joking. We have decided to renew our vows at the Frazier International History Museum in downtown Louisville, KY. To be more specific we are using the fourth floor Cultural Arts Center, Which is an "expansive, sweeping New York Style loft with exposed brick and dramatic lighting" to use the description that the Frazier uses itself. This place is beautiful! The picture on the right -> is of the room set up for a reception. There is so much space in there! It actually seats 360 at rounds. We're planning an "intimate" party with 100 friends and family in attendance. Because of this we can separate the room and have the ceremony in one section and the reception in another. The ceremony will be set up like the picture on the left <-. Its very elegant and romantic but at the same time very modern with the exposed brick and ceiling. I love this place and I really think our guests will too.

Locations, Locations, Locations.

So, while many would think that I was crazy for starting to plan this early. I believe myself to be a genius! {Just Joking} I'm, however, a firm believer in planning then doing. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as spontaneous as the next guy but when parties are the focus, spontaneity goes out the door. A great party is a well planned party and I'm just the person to bring my dreams to reality. I've been planning parties for years! I don't do it professional but I really wish I did.

Anyway, back on topic {if you read these posts with any kind of regularity you'll notice I go off point a lot, but that's just me!} Location is EVERYTHING for a Wedding {in my eyes at least}! With the first wedding Josh and I wanted to play up our personalities and mix traditional and nontraditional elements. Neither of us is very religious so getting married in a church was definitely out. We ended up with the old world charm of the Seelbach Hilton Hotel. After seeing it I "knew" that I would have my wedding there.. one day. It was WAY on the expensive side for us but I had fallen in love and who's gonna tell a girl no for her wedding day?

Now that we have been married for a year, the Seelbach just doesn't seem to be the right fit for us anymore. Where it didn't matter before I can now see and say that the Seelbach is just so NOT us. Its way to fancy and not nearly homey enough. And so I thought the search would begin again and frustrate me as much as it did the last time. I can't even begin to tell you how many places we went to look at and the "view" was a parking garage!

But wait... I think I've fallen in love again! and with the first place I went to see.... I don't know if I should jump for joy or be extra cautious. Its in my price range, its downtown, I like the coordinator, and its "us" {well maybe not 50/50 (more me) but still us}! Hallelujah!!!! Now to talk the Hubs into just going with it! Will update when we are both on board for a place!

Back Down the Aisle!!

First post! WooHoo..

Here's our story..
Josh and I met when we worked together at Charter Communications. We were both in relationships at the time and ended up marrying our respective partners. A few years later both our marriages had come to an end and we met up again working together at Citi Cards.. I think everyone gets what happened from there. =)

Okay, on to wedding: Take 1! Josh and I had planned this beautiful, expensive wedding at the Seelbach Hotel. We were to be married on October 10, 2009. For reasons that I don't even remember now, Josh and I ended up running off to the local court house to elope. It was a complete surprise to our family and friends, as the only people we told were the two friends (Mike & Amy) that we called to be our witnesses. We were married by Judge Kevin Delhanty on March 23, 2009. That night, I was rushed to the ER where I was diagnosed with Gallstones. I had emergency surgery on March 24, 2009 to remove my gallbladder. Needless, to say I don't have the greatest memories of my wedding day! We had always talked about renewing our vows and celebrating the way we had wanted to the first time.. Recently Josh and I decided that we didn't want to wait any longer and that our 3rd wedding anniversary would be the perfect time to celebrate! I have 715 days to make my take 2 wedding the perfect one!