Formulating florals.

I have thought about flowers, but haven't made up my mind about anything. I haven't even met with a florist yet. I've noticed that most brides these days carry posy bouquets, which got me thinking about other possibilities. There are so many more presentations than the typical posy (round) bouquet, so I thought I'd post a little Bouquet 101.

1. Posy/Nosegay. Pictured is a typical posy bouquet. Both posy and nosegay bouquets are round in shape and generally petite. The nosegay typically has other foliage or greenery and is smaller. Bouquets are sometimes mounted in a tussie-mussie, which is a Victorian silver cone-shaped vase. Sometimes people use the words posy and tussie-mussie synonymously, though the latter actually refers to the holder. Posy bouquets are also sometimes called round bouquets.
2. Biedermeier. The Biedermeier, named after the German style of interior decorating, is a round bouquet that features flowers of different type or color arranged in concentric rings. Usually each ring is a single type or color.
3. Arm Sheaf/Presentation. Also known as a Bernhardt, inspired by bouquets given to the actress, this bouquet contains long stemmed flowers that the bride carries cradled in her arm.
4. Brooch. Originally created/popularized by Amanda Jane, a brooch bouquet is typically made out of vintage (or heirloom) brooches, sometimes incorporating silk or floral flowers. Any sort of trinket can be incorporated into the bouquet including wine corks, earrings, buttons, etc. Brooch bouquets can be kept forever as heirloom keepsakes...but keep in mind, they can get pretty heavy!
5. Composite. Dating back to the early 20th century, a single, large flower is constructed out of hundreds of individual petals wired together. It is a very time-consuming and expensive process but makes for a big impact.
6. Cascading. My grandmother carried a cascading bouquet. Also known as a shower or teardrop, this bouquet was very popular between 1910-1930. This is the most formal and traditional bouquet, designed to spill gracefully over the bride's hands and trail downward. Princess Diana carried this bouquet.
7. Pomander. Typically carried by flower girls or junior bridesmaids, the pomander or kissing ball is a ball of blooms suspended from a loop of ribbon. They are also often used as wedding decor.
8. Hand-Tied. Simple, yet classic, the hand-tied bouquet is a simple gathering of loose flowers simply bound with stems exposed. Also known as a clutch bouquet.

There are a number of less popular bouquets that I did not include in this list including the fan, crescent, muff, and ballerina. You can read about them here.

Luv,
the Bride

Sources: Toss the Bouquet!, Bunchesdirect, Perfect Wedding Day, The Language of Flowers, Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas

The year in review.

I've only been engaged for three months, but I've already been through learned a lot. In two days it will be 2013, the year I get married! To finish out the year, I've compiled a list of ten important things I've learned so far.

1. It's never too early (or late) to start planning. My friends who had short engagements (four to six months) tell me I have "plenty of time" to plan this wedding. I did some research and found out the average engagement lasts 15-16 months. Mine will be 13 months. The length of your engagement is completely up to you. For me, I wanted nine months to a year, as I like to plan ahead. I'll tell you one thing: when I began venue searching, many places were already booked for the fall dates I wanted. Then the carpet was ripped out from under me when the venue I booked (over a year in advance) suddenly canceled on me. This time around (11 months in advance), even more venues are booked up. We ended up settling on picking a Sunday, which leads me to my next point...
2. Who said you have to get married on a Saturday? Saturdays are the most popular day to get married for obvious reasons: your guests don't have to ask off work and they have Friday and Sunday to travel. I may prefer a Saturday, but I have found non-Saturdays to be very appealing too. Many venues charge significantly less on Sundays and weekdays (sometimes between $1000-$2000 less). Also, since Saturday is so popular, more venues have openings on other days...so if you have a short time to plan, it's a great option to consider. I even had one venue offer me free use of a Saturday bride's ceremony chairs if I had my wedding that Sunday!
3. Pinterest is a bride's best friend. I didn't allow myself to daydream about wedding planning until I had a ring on my finger...but that doesn't mean you can't start pinning! I have found Pinterest to be one of the best ways to keep track of wedding ideas. I even created a separate Pinterest account just for my wedding planning and have separate boards for colors, food, hair, attire, and more. Follow me!
4. Everyone's budget is different. According to Brides magazine, the average wedding cost $26,989 in 2012. This may seem like a lot to some brides and it may seem like nothing to others. I know brides that spent as little as $3000 and others who have spent over $30,000.  Whatever your budget, your wedding is doable...you may just have to get creative! I feel like I've been making wise, budget-conscious decisions, so I try not to compare myself to others. There are some things I don't want to skimp on, and there are other things I can live without. Just because you have more or less to spend, doesn't make your wedding any less special.
5. The dress of your dreams may not be the dress of your dreams. When I went to the first bridal shop with my mom this fall, I really wasn't planning on finding anything. I figured I'd want to check out more than one store, maybe lose a little more weight first. Well, I found my dress that day...only I didn't know it. When I tried it on, I felt beautiful, and all the sales associates, the owner, and other shoppers kept commenting. I didn't buy it because I wasn't ready to buy anything that day. When I returned to NC, I visited two other stores with my friend, Lauren, and I just never got that feeling again. I kept trying on dresses that I thought were pretty, but I finally came to the conclusion that what I had in mind just wasn't right for my body type. I found myself comparing everything I tried on to that dress. So now a couple months later, I have an appointment next week to try on that dress again and (hopefully) buy it this time! FYI: It can take up to nine months for a wedding dress to come in after it's ordered, and you should give yourself two to three months between the time of your first fitting to your last. Just some things to keep in mind!
6. Do your research. This applies to everything! Research everything from the venue to the caterer to the musician to the dress to when the sun will set on your wedding date. After doing some research, I found an amazing and affordable caterer that was willing to work with us on our menu. I found the dress I wanted $100 cheaper at another store, and the original store agreed to price match it. I calculated the perfect time for the ceremony to allow for the best photographic lighting. Do your research. It pays off!
7. Observe. Chances are you've been in (or been to) a few weddings. Every chance you get, observe! Make mental notes of what you like and don't like. Ask other brides for advice! Observe the weather, the colors, the lighting, the size of the guest list, the menu, the location, the music, the dress, the overall feel...
8. You can't invite everyone. Friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and strangers will be coming out of the woodwork asking for invites. It's important to keep in mind that it is your wedding, and you shouldn't feel pressured to invite anyone you don't want to. Of course I would love to be able to invite everyone, but the truth is I just can't afford to. The Knot unveiled that the average cost per wedding guest in 2011 was $194. If you have 150 guests, that's almost $30,000! More guests=more $, so you need to find a balance between the wedding you want and the number of guests you invite. If you have to invite more people, then you may need to scale down on other things such as decor or food. Having a buffet instead of a fancy plated meal may be a cost savings that allows you to invite those extra guests.
9. Get a wedding coordinator! If you can afford to, hire someone to help you plan and coordinate. A lot of planners offer day-of-the-event coordination which is more affordable than full planning services. They will coordinate the rehearsal, ceremony, and reception, which saves you, your family, and bridal party a lot of stress and headache. If you can't afford to hire someone, consider appointing a capable friend who is willing to take on the responsibility! I am resting assured that my sweet wedding coordinator is going to allow me to enjoy my special day. My fiance is a catering coordinator, and he has told me that at almost every wedding he's worked, at least something has gone wrong. Usually he or the wedding coordinator is able to fix it without the bride ever knowing.
10. Time flies. Enjoy the ride. Sometimes I tell myself, "I've got ten more months; that's plenty of time." Other times I wish I had ten more on top of that! Everyone tells me to enjoy this time, because it will fly by...so I am sitting back and really savoring every moment. I'm loving dress shopping with my mom, hyperventilating and calling my matron-of-honor at work, watching reruns of Friends and all of Ross' weddings...though this process has been (and will be) stressful, I'm trying my best to just soak it all in, and you should too!

So there you have it, a list of ten important things I've learned so far. Hope this helps!

Luv,
the Bride

The shoes.

Is it ridiculous that I've probably thought more about my shoes than I have my dress? I decided when I went dress shopping that I would not really go in with a specific dress in mind. I knew that once I started trying them on, the right one would find me, and it may or may not be what I pictured or had in mind at all.

But not with the shoes. I knew I wanted something fun and pretty and special. I was thinking about doing some sort of ruby red slipper as a play on The Wizard of Oz and my namesake, but red isn't really my thing. I also thought it'd be fun to have that pretty red sole, but I have a love/hate relationship with Christian Louboutin. On my search for the perfect shoe I stumbled across this beauty: 

Absolutely perfect. Perfect sparkle, perfect color, perfect height. Not-so-perfect price. I love me some Jimmy Choo, and if you have ever tried any on, you will understand what there is to love. They are so delicate, beautiful, comfortable, lovely, well-made, gorgeous, rich...I could go on and on. They are also so so expensive. I only own two pairs: one which I purchased when I worked at Nordstrom during a very good sale and with a very good discount, the other which I purchased when I was single and working in New York as a buyer and could afford to do so. So I pinned these lovelies to Pinterest and went on my way. There was no way I could afford a $525 pair of shoes when I am already trying to plan this wedding on a budget. 

Earlier this month while I was having my hair done by my friend and wonderful hairstylist, Kate, I was showing her the shoes I so coveted. Then I saw it, right there on my phone. They were on sale. 

When I got home, I looked them up on the computer, and it was true. They really were on sale! Not only that, there was only one pair left in my size! It was fate.

I am now bringing these babies with me when I go buy my dress on Wednesday. Can't wait.

Luv,

the Bride

You've been PurpleBerried.

To: Dorothy

From: ... jones  

Sent: Fri 12/14/12 8:22 AM 

To all our Brides, It is with a very heavy heart that I write this letter. We regret having to announce that the...property has run into unforeseen problems beyond our control and will not be available for any events after Dec. 12, 2012.


Every bride's worst nightmare. This is the e-mail I received at the end of the day, addressed to myself along with four other brides, and our wedding planner. Notice the date the message was sent is two days after the facility became "unavailable" for events.

I would like to point out that when I received this e-mail, I was 9641.5 miles away, on the other side of the planet, in Sydney, Australia. I had limited access to the Internet and phone. Needless to say, after I finished reading this e-mail, I burst into tears. I somehow picked myself up and made myself go to sleep, determined to deal with the problem beginning the next day...and that's exactly what I did. 

I have decided to chronicle this up and down journey of wedding planning as a means of communication, and of reflection. I want to offer other brides who are going through the same trials and tribulations as I am, a place to come, a place to relate, to comment, and to laugh. I also want this blog to serve as a means for myself to remain sane, to vent, to cheer and to get excited, and more importantly, I want it to serve as a means to remember--especially when that big day has finally come and gone.

Luv,
the Bride