Make Up Trials (Round #2)

So Sha and I had our 2nd make-up trials yesterday. Our original make-up artist who's work we liked could not re-book us when we changed our date from May to July.

This time around I went for a more dramatic eye look since I wear glasses. I really liked the job she did. Sha on the other hand felt she looked to made up this time around. So although she loved her eyes, the foundation was a bit much for her. I won't say that she looked like a corpse, cause she already said it lol.

At any rate, we were really hoping that her make-up could be a little less made up on the day of the wedding as we really liked the make-up artist and want to work with her. She seemed really friendly with a down to earth personality. As she did my make-up she asked me questions about the wedding and we chit chatted a bit. Her sister who is also a make-up artist worked on Sha and she was quieter.

Today I emailed the make-up artist to tell her that although I liked her work, Sha was not very pleased with her look. It was a very nice surprise when I read her response that apologized for it and offered to do both our make-up on the day of the wedding (Sha had really liked the way she kept me looking more natural). This is especially nice considering she would have to start at least an hour earlier and we are already meeting her early in the morning.


Here are the before & after pictures:

Dana

Sharine

Flowers, Take III

So with a change of venue comes, a change in vendors.

Back in May we found a florist out in CT where we were initially going to get married. Then when we changed our venue there was no way we could work with her since she was in CT and our new venue was on a cruise ship in the Manhattan port. At any rate, once we canceled with her in September (no contract had been signed) we got to see the true professional that she was -check out my 'How Rude!' entry in September-. Nevertheless, we had to go back to the drawing board with the flowers for two reasons: (1) there are restrictions on what you can bring on the ship and  (2) ordering from the cruise line was WAYYYY out of this world budget wise.

So off to searching we went and came across Angel's Accents. Always the skeptic, and never 100% sure I want to deal with a company that is online only, I've thrown caution to the wind and booked! Not only did I like what I saw (there are zillions of pictures), but she comes highly recommended on all three of the wedding forums I belong to.

Finally, I can smell the roses!

Yippeee!!!

I was feeling a little nervous for a while there. I mean, how can you plan a wedding that is also a group trip and no one but the couple and their kids show up. It's a scary thought, but in these hard economic times it is also a realistic thought. This is one of the reasons why we changed our original wedding date. We knew it would give everyone more time to plan and save if they not only wanted to attend the wedding but join us for a week of cruising and sightseeing.

At any rate, over the last few months no one had booked but us. We were beginning to get a little worried that our plans of vacation fun with family and friends was going to turn out to be a week of wondering 'why didn't anyone show'.....

I'm happy to say that the excitement is back in the air now that we have booked guest.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((group hug everyone)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Cruising & The Norwegian Jewel

Every man, woman and child has an opinion. So in essence what I may like, you may dislike and everything is subjective. With that said we LOVE cruising!

Now for some the thought of being on any kind of boat my not equal fun, and knowing that you are vacationing with thousands of others in a shared space may give you the hives. With cruising, although you are on a boat it is not a little canoe that would rock you into vomit-ville but instead a HUGE ship that is more like a floating city. The best part of it for those who think they may get sea sick is that unless you are sailing in a hurricane you don't even feel the movement. Plus, the bigger the ship the less likely you will even remember that you are on the ocean.

As for vacationing with many others, this is something that actually makes cruising fun. You are surrounded by people with smiles on their faces and most are warm, friendly and ready to share the experience. This also makes the entertainment (comedy shows, game nights, theatre shows etc..) on the ship more exciting and fun. Now on the flip side, cruising is not so crazy and loud that you can not find quieter activities to do if you so choose. There is usually a quiet area for lounging, a library, quieter dining options instead of a buffet, and viewing and/or participating in group activities is optional.

One of the best sites for everything cruise is Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com). This site includes information about each cruise line, every cruise ship, photos, reviews by writers as well as reviews by travelers like ourselves. There is something for everyone while cruising!
----------------------------

Cruise Critic Norwegian Jewel Review (Click for a 2008 review of the ship we will be on by a writer from cruise critic. Note* this was a different itinerary*)

Travelers NCL Jewel Reviews (Click to read recent travelers' reviews of the Norwegian Jewel, with our same itinerary- Florida & Bahamas)

10/10/10 ... Original Wedding Date

Back in August 2009 Sha and I sat down looking through our cell phone calendars for the perfect wedding date. In doing so Sha stumbled upon the date of October 10th, 2010 which would mean a wedding date of 10-10-10. We thought this date would not only be 'cool' but fitting since we would be in our 10th year together.

As we set off wedding planning we realized after visiting a few wedding venues that 10-10-10 would not be in the cards for us. For you see, this was a reality check of how expen$ive weddings could be. We really had no idea how much money was needed to have the kind of wedding we both wanted. Yes, you can get married for say $200 if you just wanted a quick ceremony and no add-ons including a reception. But for us this was not the wedding that matched our personal styles and us as a couple.

So once the financial realization of it sunk in we decided to cancel our 10-10-10 wedding and move towards a wedding in 2011. Eventually we would choose two more wedding date, May 14, 2011 & July 30, 2011 and settle on the later.

Click below for a little information about today's weddings:
10-10-10

The Biggest Obstacle

A lot of money...



Well with a change in our wedding plans comes the concerns that cruising would be to much money for guest. Now we will admit, anything these days would probably seem like a lot of money in this financial climate. However, if someone is planning to travel for a week already then it's really a bargain.


First and foremost the cost of a cruise includes ALL meals, entertainment, and on board activities. Most other vacations only include the cost of travel (flying, Amtrak, etc..) and the hotel stay. Unless your at an all inclusive resort, the meals are never included. Secondly, one of the best things a budget traveler like ourselves can have is something with a payment plan, and cruising allows that when you book so far in advance like we have. Lastly, cruising usually allows you to visit more than one place in a weeks time and that's not a bad a deal for those who don't have the opportunity to travel much.

Currently, the cheapest cabin rate for our wedding cruise requires a $250 per person deposit but when mapped out can be paid in full by the April 30th 2011 due date at just $99 a month if starting payments in October (or $49.50 every two weeks if you really want to break it down). Nevertheless, there is also the option of depositing now, and paying the full balance when the tax return comes rolling in! lol
 
Of course if you are paying for more than just yourself (ex: $198 a month for two) it can pricey, but that is with any 7 day vacation. Even going to visit granny down south for a week doesn't come cheap these days!
 
I guess we look at it this way, we can easily spend $99 on crap we have nothing to show for during a months time, so why not spend it on a vacation with lasting memories!

Booked!!!!

We're Cruising Into Marriage!!

So I'm feeling all warm and tingly inside.

In the last two weeks we have gotten confirmation on our wedding booking, and we have booked our cabin with a deposit. It's all feeling real-er, than real!!!

Now this kind of wedding is not for the control freak, the gal that needs to have her hand in every pot, or the bride to be with her finger on speed dial. A cruise ship wedding is set up by the cruise lines' wedding company that they out source to and everything is taken care of by your wedding consultant prior to the day of your wedding. So over the next 11 months our job is just to fill out the forms, send the emails and call the consultants when we want to add features or cancel them all together. Then on the day of the wedding we will work with the ships wedding coordinator to finalize and then take that loving walk down the aisle to marriage.

Although Sha and I started out planning a more traditional affair we realize that even if we have to put our wedding in the hands of consultants & coordinators, ultimately a cruise ship wedding is the wedding that says:

' Dana & Sharine '

Can I Get Confirmation On That!!

Waiting for someone else to give confirmation on something can be the start of one of those terrible mind games. It makes you contemplate, second guess, and even wonder if something has gone horribly wrong.

As this wedding planning saga continues we are in the process of waiting for full confirmation that our deposit for our new wedding venue has been received. Now mind you, I know banks have to clear and paperwork has to be processed but this doesn't calm the nerves when you are just so excited about a new adventure.

The funny thing is, I know this is only the beginning. 

When you plan the type of wedding that we are now working towards most of the details our out of your hands. Therefore, the whole process is full of waiting and confirmations. Now for a control freak such as myself, I am not sure how this is going to work but I know in the end I will get the best confirmation of all.

That I am married to my sweetheart Sharine.

Wedding Websites

I think personal wedding websites are the coolest thing since slice bread. It's the easiest and fasted way to get information to guest  and there is so much information on the web that most questions can be answered, especially when planning a destination wedding. It also gives you an opportunity to get quick feedback and help in the entire planning process from start to finish.

With a change in our plans there also had to come a change to our site.

Click..
click..
clicking away...

Anticipation...is making me wait...well no more like making me crazy!

Don't you just hate when your all set to do something and your bubble is burst!!! That's how I felt yesterday.

We were all set to finalize our *new* wedding plans and the person we needed to see was out for the rest of the week. I had just spoken to him on Tuesday which was his first day back to work since he works Tuesday-Friday, so of course I was totally surprised when here we are two days later ready to plan and his colleague tells us he won't be back to work until next week. UGHH!!

And so we wait......

Bridesmaids Dresses

There are so many different ways to dress your bridesmaids now.

Long gone are the cookie-cutter bridesmaids that appeared to be more like Stepford Wives. Brides are allowing her girls to pick their own dresses so long as they are in a particular color, or they're wearing their favorite black dress already hanging in their closets and or even just wearing what they find most flattering on their own bodies. I feel bridesmaid's have come along way in terms of looking fashion forward, comfortable and feeling stunning.

Call me old fashion but one of my least favorite styles is the 'print' bridesmaids dresses. For some reason this is an awkward look; and please don't let it be red with any kind of lines on it for my brain immediately screams picnic table. My favorite style though (and again maybe I'm old fashion) is the matching bridesmaids. Now this doesn't mean all dresses, all shoes, and all accessories are matching, but matching in the sense that all the bridesmaids are wearing the same color. For me this is 'semi classic' and for a non traditional bride like myself it is probably the closest thing to traditional my wedding would be, that is if we were able to have bridesmaids.

Wedding planning is a trip.

So many questions, choices, and decisions to make and just when you thought you had it all figured out.......
.................... you don't.

We've recently come to the conclusion that this wedding should be about us; and that we need to stop making our plans based on what will make everyone else comfortable. Yes, we want it to be just as special for our guest, but when all is said and done no wedding guest will store 'our' wedding in the section of their memory bank marked 'best thing that has ever happened to me'; in fact a year later they may not even remember much about the day that was special for you. So we've had to seriously ask our selves the questions...

* In the long run who has to be completely happy with the wedding experience?!?!
* Who has to have a lasting memory that says 'I loved it'?!?!
* Who does the wedding really have to reflect!?!?

....and in our answers there was a reoccurring theme...

....'us'.

It's the Best/Geekiest Wedding Ever -- Bride and Groom Superheroes!

Wow!!

Now this is my kind of wedding.

It's the Best/Geekiest Wedding Ever -- Bride and Groom Superheroes!

Not that I am into super heroes like this, but just the thought of thinking so out of the box that you make your wedding fun and non cookie cutter. I am all for the non-traditional, do what you wanna do, I have no desire to be Cinderella weddings.

SUPER congrats are in order here!

A $5 million dollar wedding!?!?

While it is estimated that Chelsea Clinton has spent about 5 mil for her wedding I really don't see the point.
I mean even if I had money out the kazoo I do believe there is something called "going overboard".
Heck, I'd settle for a measly $50,000 wedding.
I'm not picky!

If only...

As we get closer to our wedding date which is now now less than 10 months away, I wonder if we are 'settling'.

For you see, one of the things that Sharine and I have in common is our love of the ocean, the open sea, cruising, and just sitting by the calm nature of water. We often spend our time together gazing over the Hudson River when we are down by Christopher Street, or relaxing by Chelsea Piers. We have also spent plenty of relaxing moments by the East River at such places like the South Street Seaport; moments that have been both quiet, and full of energetic conversations.

If only all good dreams could come true.....

She WAS a beautiful bride untilll...

As I began this little wedding planning journey I also began to enjoy looking at pictures of real weddings. From the decor, to the cake, from the bridesmaids dresses to the bouquets, there are just so many beautiful things to see. However, I have also come to realize that there is one little pet peeve, irritant or annoyance that I have and that is seeing a bride in her formal gown with nothing but these 'tats' not only making my eyes focus on them, but taking away from the beauty of it all!

Shady Business

Where do I begin...

Back in October 09, Sha and I came across a quaint little tea house down on Irving Place in Manhattan. We had scheduled a visit, then a tasting, and then we began to plan a wedding there. Our first step was to fine tune all the details of what we wanted so that the general manager could put together our contract and we could then leave a deposit and 'seal the deal' so to speak. So after several emails back and forth  our choices were made and the general manager said he would have our contract ready in the following week after he came back from his travels. That was November 11, 2009.

A full month would go by with no contract, no email, no phone call, no nothing. So on Dec 10th I sent my own follow-up email and to my surprise I received a reply about 10 minutes later. In the response he stated that he was "just looking over a few weddings for 2010 and making myself a note to start the terms of agreement for you". Huh!!? what!?!?!? Now a month prior he was suppose to be starting the contract, so how was he JUST doing it now!??!

So always being one to try and give people the benefit of the doubt (thanks to my lovely soon to be wife lol), I sent a thank you reply and waited as the days on the calendar rolled by.....

December 2009...
January 2009...
February 2010.. (umm, Houston? do we have a problem?!?!?)
March 2010... (so of course we are looking into OTHER venues by this time)
April 2010... (booked a different venue)
May 2010...
June 2010...
July 2010...

.......................July 16th, 2010 WTF!?!??!! You gotta be kidding me?!?!? where's the hidden camera!?!?!?

-----------------
Greetings again from The Inn,

I hope you are both having a wonderful summer. I wanted to check back in and see if you wish to confirm your hold on October 10th. I am starting to get additional inquiries for other events and it is now time to proceed forward with the "terms of agreement." I look forward to hearing from you.

 Thanks,

Shawn
-----------------

So I'm sitting at my computer, mouth gaping open, eyes wide, and clicking forward so that I can send this madness to Sharine. The brain is trying to register this mess and at the same time I'm wondering how should I respond, if I should respond, if I do respond should I let him have it, should I tell him where to stick it! I am at a loss for words initially but a few days later it flows easily....

-----------------
WOW.


This email has certainly come as a total shock. After never receiving the terms of agreement from you and then no response to our emails we quite frankly were very disappointed and wrote you and this establishment off. We will admit we loved the quaintness of the inn, the tasting, and the staff that we met but the turn of events left a bitter taste in our mouths and we moved on.

Below is the very last email we received from you which was in December. Please fell free to go forth with new inquires for our date.


We wish you well.

Dana & Sharine

------------------
woosahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Am I A Color Whore!?!?

PURPLE/ORANGE/FUCHSIA

I know weddings are suppose to be romantic, and sweet, and sentimental...but does that have to equal bland? We are getting married in the spring and usually you see lots of pinks, yellows, light greens, and a variety of pastels; bland, bland, bland....

I see myself running in the total opposite direction. Can you say 'POP'!?!?!?!? That's what I think wedding colors should represent. I mean it's a festive occasion with lots of smiles, laughter and hopefully a whopping good time. So even though we are having a hard time finding what we we want in our colors of purple, orange & fuchsia... I know that when we do our wedding decor will read WOW!...and that's alright with me!

Wedding Planning Blues

Things have slowed down tremendously in the world of wedding planning. I remember when Sha and I seemed to be caught up in the world wind of planning and every time we turned around there was a venue to visit, some food to taste, inquiry emails to send and wedding vendors to meet. Now a days it's just quiet.

Now don't get me wrong I am so glad we found our venue which took us months to do, however it seems that once that was completed everything else just feel right into place. So now at the 10 month mark most of the big things are done:

Booked Venue/Catering

Booked Photography

Booked DJ

Booked Officiant

Found wedding gowns; didn't order yet
Purchased both our wedding bands
Booked Make-Up Artist

Found Florist; haven't finalized order yet

So now we focus on the smaller items and for some reason this is what has caused our turtle like movements. Things like selecting invites, choosing centerpieces, deciding on favors, etc... have become a big bore. Actually no, it has become more like a big chore.
 
I didn't like chores as a kid so of course I a not too thrilled about them now!
 
 

Is it Live, or Memorex?!!!?!?

I wonder how much 'material' I would need!?!?! lol


Click below to read more!

Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest - Sexy One-Shoulder Gown Wins