Well the invitations have been sent and if I thought any part of this wedding planning was a challenge I was wrong until I tried to DIY my own invitations. Now for those who are crafty this would probably be like a relaxing cool breeze, but for me it was stressful. At times I felt like I was standing on an edge of a cliff about to swat an annoying fly which would send me plunging into my descent.
Even though my sweetie was always in my corner, telling me things would be fine and I could do this......there were times I just didn't believe it and wanted to throw in the towel. I hung in there though, and even though I am not truly happy with the finished product I am glad that I didn't give up, that I wasn't defeated by paper and a printer, and in the end I do not have to label myself a quitter.
Our 'Boarding Pass' Cruise Ship Wedding Invitation
Geesh...why are a good pair of shoes so hard to find?!?!
I mean is it to much to ask that we don't want them high, but not low.
That we don't want our toes completely out, but not completely covered either.
That they need not be too flexible, yet not too stiff.
Or maybe it's the price range, I mean we don't want to pay the cost of rent nor do we expect to only pay the cost of a stick of gum.
But Geesh....why are a good pair of shoes so hard to find.....for Sharine that is!
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I lucked out with my shoe search a few weeks ago so here's a sneak peek, BUT.......
.......... they look 'different' now that I own them! *sly smile*
Okay so now we're at another cross road in the 'Saga of the Cruise Ship Wedding'.
As you know, or maybe you don't because it's your first time here, a cruise ship wedding is pretty much that; a cruise ship wedding. In other words, a lot of what can and can not take place or be done is dictated by the cruise ship. Case in point....music.
There are two choices.. to DJ or not to DJ. You can hire only their DJ and ONLY if you do a cocktail reception and not a sit down lunch reception. So in order to have music at your reception your hand is basically forced to book the cocktail reception.
Now of course if your into sitting at a table for 2 hours and not really having any space to move around and mingle, then the lunch reception is just for you. Since their lunch receptions are sit down they are held in one of the two main dinning rooms ie: no dance floor. As for the cocktail reception, they are held in one of their night clubs or lounges and the one you get is at their discretion again. Here there is a dance floor but no dinner tables. Almost sounds like you can't win for losing! lol
At any rate, we're not stuffy sit down folk and I know I am to ADHD to be sitting in one spot for two hours so we booked the cocktail reception. This selection now brings us to our current state of dilemmas. We can either hire their DJ for one hour at the rate of $$$$$$$$$$ or two hours at the rate of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. If not, they do have a sound tech for $$$$$$ who will play the music you bring.
God forbid you press play on their equipment yourself!
As a DIY (do it yourself) novice I decided to try and save a buck by creating our own STDs (save-the-dates) for our wedding. Sharine and I had been researching STDs long before we had definite plans of our wedding and we realized that there was just so much to choose from, plus nothing came cheap once you said 'wedding'. We also realized that our cheapest route would be either an online printing company like (http://www.vistaprint.com/, http://www.123print.com/, http://www.magnetstreet.com/ etc...) or a DIY project by using materials from places like http://www.micheals.com/, http://www.joann.com/, http://www.hobbylobby.com/, etc..). This realization made it easy for me to at least TRY a DIY project and with the help of http://www.vistaprint.com/, and some materials from a paper store I believe we were successful.
After all, we all know that eventually STDs, invitations, thank you cards etc... all end up in one place no matter how much the sender spent.
In the garbage! lol
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Save-the-Date Photo Magnet
- I designed these at http://www.vistaprint.com/, it's a wonderful site where you can create all kind of things and use your own photos and personal touches.
- The envelopes we purchased at a paper store in Manhattan
- The ribbon is good ole' fashion curly ribbon
The Full Packet
- We included the STD magnet, and a note
- The note was a poem I made up for the occasion
Return Address Labels
- We had some clear address labels already (from staples) so I just added a heart to it.
Putting It All Together
- Sha and I prepare each packet for mailing
There is a great debate that some may know about out, but all those who are planning a wedding do know about; to register or not to register, for gifts that is.
Now wedding etiquette says that you must register for you are starting a new marriage household and need things to help build that foundation. Wedding etiquette also says, that if you don't register you are sending the message that all you want is money which is a no no in the world of weddings.
So as most people know Sharine and I have been together for eleven years now and five of those years we have actually shared a household along with our kids. Now when sharing a household you tend to accumulate even more especially when there are 4 people living in it. Keeping this in mind we have begun our own debate. Not a debate on whether we should register or not, but where to register. After equally deciding we did not want to register we were reminded that if we didn't it would scream 'give us money', but also people have already begin asking us where are we registered?.
That is a loaded question.
With so many places that you can be registered at it's really hard to decide. Then when you top that with the fact that we don't want to register it makes the 'where' decision even harder.
So as we begin to look at the usual places like discount stores (Target, Walmart etc..), department stores (Macys), and speciality stores (Bed, Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel etc...) it makes me realize I have to begin to stress myself over choosing things I do not really need. Then of course you read & hear : well just upgrade what you already have. But what if you like what you already have? and why should you have money being spent on something you already have that works perfectly well?!?
Okay now just when you think the decision couldn't be any harder comes the whole modern technology twist; online registries. Now this twist doesn't just come with the fact that you can register with the above mentioned stores online, it also comes with the fact that there are even more registry choices; honeymoon registries, buying a house registries, and even the giant elephant in the room cash registries. Now compound this with the fact that we are getting married on a cruise ship and the cruise line ask that we let guest know that due to security reasons they cannot board with presents.
I believe I've just fainted and gone to registry hell!
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
For our wedding we are only having one bridesmaids which is our almost 14 year old, and one groomsman....our son who will be 21 by then. On the day we shopped for our wedding gowns we also had the opportunity for our girl child to try on dresses just to get an idea of what might look good on her. We will not be purchasing until closer to our July date since her size has changed and we have no idea what size she will be by then.
More than likely we will go back to David's Bridal in May. We will also have the option of finding her dress in a variety of stores since it will be prom season. Of course being the girl that she is, she has threaten to wear sneakers, and declares herself a tomboy... NOT if you be trying to show cleavage?!? Somebody get her a dictionary please.
At any rate, it was with great pleasure that she actually wanted to try on dresses (which is the good news), but of course there has to be bad news and now we are going to have to declare war on her not trying to choose some hot chick dress. Contrary to what she believes, the theme of our wedding is not hoochie!! lol
Here's what she tried on....
......can you guess which was her favorite!?!?
All in all, we are pretty lucky though since we only have to dress one female and I've read plenty of bridesmaids wedding shopping horror stories. I hope we stay this way!
