Post-wedding True Brides {Eric + Jami}

I am FINALLY back to do a Post-wedding True Brides Post about Myself and Eric, hope you're ready!!!

October 8th, 2011 was our special day, but not only to just us, both of our parents as well. Eric and I got married on the day our parents celebrated their anniversaries as well, this year happened to be 24 years of marriage for them :)

Describe your wedding ceremony:

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, I couldn't have asked for anything better! I told my dad he had to make sure I wouldn't cry walking down the aisle, well, he failed at that, ha. I started bawling as soon as I walked into the church and because I was crying and get nervous around a lot of people, I started walking really fast and it wasn't until I came upon the alter, ALL of my bridesmaids mouthed "SLOOOW DOWN" :) haha--Later on, I asked dad why he didn't slow me down, he said, "I was just following you" :)

Eric looked handsome as ever, I felt like a princess--it was perfect!! 

The wedding ceremony was HUGE!!

Describe your wedding reception:

Fun filled, with lots of guests!! Eric and I invited around 750 people and I'm going to say that nearly 600 people were there, if not more because of a few drop in's, here and there.... it was huge, but wonderful! I didn't get to speak to all my guests, so I will apologize now, but there was so much going on! My favorite part of the reception was the Candy and Cookies Table--it was a HUGE hit and nearly 80% of it was gone within 20 minutes of the DJ announcing it was open. My dad, sister, Sarah, and Tyler's speech all made me cry (I realized during all of this, I am a big sissy on the inside, ha). Eric and I's first dance was to Staind's "All I Want" and we danced like there was no one in the room, it was beautiful!  Eric and I also danced with both of our parents to celebrate all of our special days!!

What was the most special part of your wedding day?

I can't just pick out one---but here are the top 3.

1) Becoming Mrs. Jesse--when the wedding bands were on and the "I do's" were said!!!

2) Hearing all the cheers when Eric and I walked into the reception to "Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield. 

3) Heath singing "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban--My friend Heath was in a bad car accident back in March and doctors told us that he wasn't going to make it. I had already asked Heath in January to sing at my wedding, so I refused to ask anyone else until I was CERTAIN he was able to sing at least one song at my wedding (like I had planned since high school). We all prayed like crazy and a miracle happened---seven months later, he was singing a song at my wedding!! 

What was the most stressful part about your wedding day?

In all honesty--I was stressed before the wedding and after the wedding (trying to figure out where we were going to put everything, ha) but the day of my wedding--I wasn't stressed at all!! (At least, I don't remember--ha--you might have to ask my sister on that one)!

Don't you just LOVE my purple shoes? Because I TOTALLY did!!

Who was your favorite wedding vendor and why?

 That's a hard question--because I loved them all!! My photographer was amazing and her dad did a WONDERFUL job!!! My mother made a beautiful cake!!! My sister kicked some serious wedding planning butt!! And the caterer, my food was DELICIOUS!!

Did you plan a honeymoon and if so, where?

Eric and I went to Costa Rica for our honeymoon! I told him that if he didn't do anything for the wedding, that was fine, but he had to pick our honeymoon--and he did!! It was absolutely gorgeous there! Everything was so green! The only downfall was it rained every day---not all day, but every day. 

*** Anything else you would like to share about your wedding day?
This day will never happen again, so make it wonderful and cherish it. Don't get all "bridezilla" when one little thing goes wrong, chance are it went wrong to show you that your wedding day is still going to be amazing, even if it's not perfect because it's YOUR day, the day you get married to your perfect someone!

I had THE BEST looking wedding party around!

All Images by Montography

WeddingLovely.com - a Wedding Planning Web App - has Launched!!

These amazing ladies are at it again!!!  WeddingLovely.com is now a Wedding Planning Web-based Application where you can get all the info you need in one place - from personalized advice to booking any of the fabulous vendors in their organization (including baci!!).

Our readers are now being offered a Special Coupon Code for WeddingLovely.com  - use VENDORFRIEND33 for 33% off all of their plans!!  We can't wait to hear all about your experiences with this new and exciting app :o)

True Brides {Eric + Lindsie}

Another True Brides Feature for you!!

I met Lindsie during college and she is such an amazing lady, I am so happy that she has found Eric to complete her life. Lindsie and Eric will be getting married on June 16th, 2012 in Jackson, Michigan. Their gorgeous wedding colors are pink, coral, and champagne. 

Engagement Questions

What was one of the first things (wedding-wise) you did when you got engaged?

Started to decide the size of wedding we wanted; whether it was 50 people or 200. Then we started deciding the guest list.

Did you know the engagement was coming or were you surprised?

I knew it was coming, I just didn’t know when or what was going to happen. I was still very surprised though!

Wedding Questions
One thing you were worried about when planning your wedding?

We were worried most about whether or not this was the right way for us to get married. We had debated about getting married very simply with just immediate family then taking a nice vacation, but we decided to have a “normal” wedding so our families could be a part of it. We didn’t want to regret either decision, so that is what we were most worried about.

What was the easiest vendor to book?

The easiest vendor for me to book was the location of the reception. I think it was just meant to be because it all fell into place seamlessly.

What was the hardest vendor to book?

The hardest vendor to book was the photographer. To me, the pictures are extremely important. I had a really hard time deciding which one I wanted that would be available and fit in my price range. Our engagement is only 6 months, so finding someone that would be free in that short amount of time posed a big challenge. Our first photographer, which we had booked and were only a week away from engagement pictures, found out she was having twins and couldn’t do our wedding… So, we had to scramble to find another in a VERY short amount of time. Thankfully, we found one.

Is there anything special that has been done for your wedding?

There hasn’t been anything done special for our wedding, but what is special about our wedding is that it will be joining together a family, not just husband and wife. Eric has two little girls, so from that we will be making our family official on our wedding day. The girls are so excited. We wanted to be able to show them our love and to show them how important they are to us. They will have special details throughout the entire wedding. We made the invitation wording from their point of view and the ceremony will include them as well.

How was wedding dress shopping?

Wedding dress shopping was fun and nerve racking at the same time. It is kind of a lot of pressure because you are looking for the dress that is perhaps the most important dress of your life. You want your husband to find you drop dead gorgeous in it yet you want to keep the dream that you’ve had in your head since you were a little girl. I invited my grandma, mom, mother-in-law to be, and a bridesmaid. All eyes were on me. I tried on the first one and it felt VERY weird to be in a wedding dress. But the more I kept trying on, the more I loved the first one. I purchased the first wedding dress I ever tried on! J

What’s been the most stressful part about the wedding?

The most stressful part has been all of the meetings and such throughout the work-week and weekends. We are very busy as it is, with 2 kids, work, and many other things, so trying to fit in meetings and picking up things for the wedding has been very stressful. Also, trying to make other people happy; all the way from who we chose to invite (people will always have something to say about that) to making our parents happy and involved in the process.

What’s been the best part about the wedding?

The best part is knowing that I get to spend forever with the man I am marrying. The actual wedding day is exciting, getting dressed up and having fun with friends and family, yet I am most excited for every single day after that. I look forward to the routines, waking up to my husband every day, snuggles with the girls, and for every single memory that I will be making.

Was choosing your wedding party hard or easy?

Hard. I wanted to pick people that have known me the longest and been most influential in my life AND who have supported us as a couple. Trying to choose those people and not hurt any of my other friend’s feelings was hard.

Have things gotten any easier as the wedding day approaches?

Well, all of the big things are planned. But now it is time for little details and that tends to be more difficult. The big things are important, but the little details are what make the wedding day yours.

A big Congratulations to the Future Mr. and Mrs. Norman!!!

REMINDER :: Deadline for DIY "I Do!" is Tomorrow!

{Image by T. Marie Photography}

Baci's Wedding Planning Workshop, DIY "I Do!" is just around the corner! Baci's Lead Designer and Coordinator, Amanda, the University of Akron's Workforce Development and Continuing Education and the Akron Art Musem are offering a one day workshop for newly engaged couples or wedding helpers (mothers, bridesmaids, friends and family!), to learn the ropes of planning a successful wedding!

The workshop is this Saturday, March 3rd from 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM at the Akron Art Museum.  Lunch and a cake tasting will be provided for all attendees.  Also, we'll have a fabulous tablescape set up and information from some of our preferred vendors to help boost your creative ideas! :)

The deadline to sign up for this seriously awesome class is tomorrow,  Monday, February 27th so be sure not to miss this great opportunity!

Here's a small preview of some our topics for the day...

YAY - I’m ENGAGED!!!! OMG, What Do I Do Now?!?!?

Learn the steps to take first and what comes next after saying, “Yes!”.

Does Tangerine go with Mocha?

How to choose a color palette for your big day – the rules and regulations.

Mason Jars and Vintage Cars

The Internet and Bridal Magazines are chocked full of inspiration – learn the best way to utilize them!

You Charge How Much?!?!

Learn what ballpark prices to expect from vendors and why they deserve it.

Do I Get Printing Rights with That?

Get the right questions to ask possible vendors; learn what you can expect from them and what they expect from you!

I’m Freaking Out Here!!!!

Professionals carry their title for a reason – when in doubt, hire one!

If you haven't registered, go to the University's Course Catalog Listing and sign up now!

Remembering Who Your Day is Really About

Image by Brandy J Photography

Being in the wedding industry, I've seen a lot of reasons why couple's choose not to do something, "It's out of our price range" or "That's not my style", but when I hear, "My mom doesn't like it" or "Daddy's footing the bill" as an excuse it always makes me sad.  Truly, madly, deeply sad.  Your wedding, whether to your high school sweetheart or a person you've known for just three months, whether a man to a woman or a man to another man, should always reflect you and who you are as a couple.  End of story.  Understandably, the person wielding the check book always gets a say, but I so, so, so wish that person would realize who the wedding day is all about - YOU, the actual person getting married!

Recently, I met with a bride for a design consultation and she proceed to tell me price would ultimately decide what kind of stationery she would get because her father felt price was the only decision-making criteria and he was paying for everything.  I was obviously taken aback by this. . .but when she continued to say that a certain shade of blue is and has always been her favorite color and that she was only allowed to incorporate accents of it because her mother hated it, I was crushed.  She proceeded to say, "My mother says this is her wedding because her own mother planned hers. . . she says I'll be the same when I have a daughter."  I wanted to cry for her (and for her future daughter for that matter).

It's things like this that perpetuate the cycle of weddings not being about the couple, but instead about the parents and it has to stop - let it stop with you.  If you want to get married in a wet suite at the local aquarium, but wouldn't think of it because your nanna wants you to have a traditional church wedding - do it anyway!  Nanna will be happy when she sees how happy you are :o)  Do whatever it is that your heart desires because you only get one chance (and remember it's not ok to hijack your children's weddings just because you didn't get to have your wedding your own way).  You have one chance as bride and groom or bride and bride to walk down that aisle knowing every guest left knowing you a little bit more.  As kindly as possible, tell the haters that it's not their day, it's yours and enjoy every single minute of your beautiful, unique and oh-so-you event (and then send us pictures!!)!!   And if your parents decide to close their check books, then so be it.  Take the money you do have and make each and every penny count towards making your wedding day ALL about you ;o)

Wedding Wednesday | Happy Birthday to baci Winner + A DIY "I Do!" Workshop

Happy Wedding Wednesday!!!

A big thank you to all that entered our Happy Birthday to baci Giveaway and for all your kind words :o)  You all really are so sweet!!

Without further delay, the winner of all three shirley | edith Birthday Card Designs is. . . . Julie!  Congratulations, Lady - if you'll email me {amanda@bacidesigner.com} with your mailing address I'll send the cards out to you. . . and since we love our fans so much I'll throw in the card you chose as your favorite!

Now for some more seriously exciting news - I, in collaboration with the University of Akron's Workforce Development & Continuing Education Department and the Akron Art Museum, will be offering a one day workshop for newly engaged couples and others involved in the wedding planning process (think bridesmaids and moms!) called A DIY "I Do!"!!  With topics focusing on staying calm throughout the planning process to putting together a day-of timeline, this course will help you stay on track until the big day!

Here's a little sneak peek at a few of the other topic titles we'll be touching on throughout the day:

YAY - I’m ENGAGED!!!! OMG, What Do I Do Now?!?!?

Learn the steps to take first and what comes next after saying, “Yes!”.

Does Tangerine go with Mocha?

How to choose a color palette for your big day – the rules and regulations.

Mason Jars and Vintage Cars

The Internet and Bridal Magazines are chocked full of inspiration – learn the best way to utilize them!

You Charge How Much?!?!

Learn what ballpark prices to expect from vendors and why they deserve it.

Do I Get Printing Rights with That?

Get the right questions to ask possible vendors; learn what you can expect from them and what they expect from you!

I’m Freaking Out Here!!!!

Professionals carry their title for a reason – when in doubt, hire one!

The course will be held in one of the most beautiful local reception venues - the Akron Art Museum - on Saturday, March 3rd from 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM.  Lunch and a cake tasting will be provided. . . plus we'll have a beautiful tablescape set up to get your creative juices flowing!  You'll get a head start on planning with information on all of the amazing vendors we utilize for the workshop, too!

Excited yet?!?!  Head on over to the University's Course Catalog Listing to sign up - we hope to see you in March!!

Handpicked | Bridesmaid Dresses

In honor of two of my best friends recently getting engaged (and being in the wedding mood), I am picking out nine different bridesmaid dresses for today's Handpicked!

1) Dessy Collection Style 2856 from Dessy.

2) After Six Bridesmaid Style 6639 from Dessy.

3) Organza Dress with Draped Bodice and Bubble Skirt from David's Bridal - Vera Wang, enough said.

4) Strapless Ruched Satin Ball Gown from David's Bridal.

5) Satin Strapless Ball Gown with Sweetheart Neckline from David's Bridal - I actually wore this for one of my best friend's wedding, it was so comfy and had pockets (very nice, so I could carry around my camera at the reception).

6) Claudia halter dress in silk chiffon by J Crew - All I can say is Stunning. 

7) Alexia Designs #4056 by Alexia Designs.

8) Alexia Couture #872 by Alexia Designs - I know this is a little different, but I love the black and white together in this dress.

9) Silk Dupioni Strapless Bridesmaid Dress by Ann Taylor.

WeddingLovely.com's New Wedding Planning Email Newsletter

Tracy, the genius behind Wedding Invite Love and Wedding Planner Love, has done it again!  She's launched an incredible tool that will help brides with their planning timeline - WeddingLovely.com, an email newsletter system to inform couple's of what they should be planning and when, is now available!  Simply sign up with your email address and enter your wedding date (even if you haven't solidified it, a guesstimate works, too!) and you'll start receiving emails full of tips and recommendations based on where you should be in your planning timeline.  Seriously awesome!!

Sunday Funday, #19

Can you imagine how beautiful the button bouquet looks since the "button-iere" is absolutely amazing? I'm in love! :)

{source}

True Brides {Kyle + Katy}

Remember the Beautiful Engagement Pictures for Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Richards? Well, Katy is back to give us a True Bride Report!

Katy and Kyle are getting married on New Years Eve at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio. (I think it's so romantic to get married on a fun holiday such as New Years Eve!! What better way to ring in the new year!). Their gorgeous winter colors are red, black, and white. 

Engagement Picture Taken By Mirage Graphics and Designs. 

Engagement Questions

What was one of the first things (wedding wise) you did when you got engaged?

 True to my nature, the first thing I did was stress over the small details. Of course, come to find out although the details are important, it isn’t necessary to stress out over every small one, such as favors.

Did you know the engagement was coming or were you surprised?

 I had known he had the ring, but had no idea the engagement was going to come so soon! I thought he would wait until my birthday (in March), but he surprised me Jan. 22, 2011 with a proposal at Stoney Ridge Winery in Bryan, Ohio.

The Night Katy and Kyle got engaged at Stoney Ridge Winery (Which is an amazing place, I might add, ha).

Wedding Questions

One thing you were worried about when planning your wedding?

 Money. The biggest thing was money because, aside from some gracious help with food and beverages from our parents, we paid for the wedding ourselves, which isn’t easy on a tight budget! But I think we will be able to pull it off thanks to some creative DIY J

What was the easiest vendor to book?

  Haha, in reality, none of our vendors were exactly easy to book seeing as how nothing was going to work out for our original date of Sept. 8, 2012, which was a big reason we moved the wedding up!

What was the hardest vendor to book?

 See above haha

  

Is there anything special that has been done for your wedding?

With us moving up the date so drastically, the most special thing that’s been done for our wedding is having our amazing wedding party be so willing to do whatever it takes to still be involved on such short notice!

  

How was wedding dress shopping?

 Easy peasy! I went with one of my bridesmaids the weekend after Kyle proposed to “look” at dresses, thinking I would just get an idea of what I liked and then do the serious shopping later. Well, I wound up finding a dress I absolutely loved that day and bought it then and there! (Insert shameless plug for Bridal Elegance in Defiance here. Lol)

  

What’s been the most stressful part about the wedding?

 What was most stressful was not having anything work out for our original date as planned and having to adjust our date.

What’s been the best part about the wedding? 

The love and support that we have received from so many people. The whole planning process has been crazy, but so many people have offered to help and have offered advice that its very heart-warming.

Was choosing your wedding party hard or easy? 

That part was pretty easy for us since Kyle and I both have really close sets of friends.

 Have things gotten any easier as the wedding day approaches? 

It isn’t as if things have gotten difficult, but it definitely feels like we’re racing a clock to get things finished in time while both of us work two jobs!

I can't wait to see all the wonderful pictures from their December wedding. Be on the look out for Kyle and Katy to share there post wedding experience with us :) 

Congrats to the Future Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Richards!!

Post-Wedding True Brides {Amanda + Luke}

Remember our couple Amanda and Luke Thorne from the very first True Brides Feature that got married on June 4th?

Well, Amanda is back to fill us in on the "Post Wedding" information :)

Image by Metts Photo

Describe your wedding ceremony: 

Our wedding ceremony was performed by our good friend’s dad, Dave Cornwell.  Mr. Cornwell loves life and people and was able to make Luke and I laugh, as well as the guests.  He also knows when to be serious and honor the importance of us standing before God becoming man and wife.  We had so many comments on how great the ceremony was and Luke and I couldn’t agree more.


I also wanted to give the sanctuary a romantic feel. So we left the lights down low, except for where Luke and I were standing.  As we walked out, however, we wanted to have fun, so we played Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and rode away in a tractor  =)

Image by Metts Photo

Describe your wedding reception: 

Our reception was laid back and fun.  We did the cutting of the cake and all the 1^st dances in the beginning so we could get to the fun part of everyone dancing and having a good time.  We had a late wedding so we only served appetizers and dessert for our foods.  Ice cream is my favorite food, so we had an ice cream bar with different toppings, a chocolate fountain, cookies, brownies and more.  It saved us a lot of money doing it that way and it was delicious!

What was the most special part of your wedding day? 

The most special part of the wedding was when the doors opened and I walked down the aisle to Luke with my dad on one side of me.  It is so symbolic of two families becoming one and two people creating a whole new life together.  Plus, it was the moment I had been dreaming of since we got engaged!

What was the most stressful part about your wedding day?  

There were a few stressful parts to the day:

1.  I was stressed out in the late afternoon, because after my girls and I got our hair done, we didn’t wait too long to get down to the church.  Well we were ready and waiting for the ceremony to start for about 3 hours.  That was way too long to be waiting!!  I had many crying moments because I was filled with emotion, and by the end I was just getting very antsy and impatient.

2.  Luke and I both got a bit stressed out when we entered out reception hall.  We didn’t have a wedding planner so the wedding part sat down and we didn’t know what to do from there.  It was a bit awkward.  Praise the good Lord we had hired Pro DJs, they took charge and ­saved the evening! 

3.  Luke’s most stressful part was that a lot of his family from out of town left to go back to the hotel before we arrived to the reception site.  It was very disappointing for him, but we had to remind ourselves that it wasn’t the time to worry about anything except for having a good evening.

Who was your favorite wedding vendor and why?  

Well we only had two wedding vendors and there is no way we could only pick one of them.  Michael, with Metts Photo, is wonderful and creative.  He does what he needs to do to get a great shot.  Plus, the pictures are those beautiful memories captured for you.  We definitely couldn’t have had our wedding with out Mett’s Photo.

The other vendor we had was Pro DJs.  At first we were going to try and do the music with an iPod and decided to relieve me of stress.  Best move we could have made!  Pro DJ’s went above and beyond!!  They carried my plate for me as I got dessert so I didn’t have to work or spill anything on my dress.  They got us drinks at the beginning of the reception and of course played great music that everyone had a great time dancing to.

Did you plan a honeymoon and if so, where? 

Yes!  We went to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  It was exactly what we needed.  Time for just the two of us to relax and not think, plan, or do anything important!  I now understand why it is so important to take a honeymoon after you are married, you need it!

*** Anything else you would like to share about your wedding day?

So many brides say this, but it is so true.  Not everything is going to turn out just has you had planned it and definitely not how you dreamed it… unless you are a millionaire  ;)  Enjoy each moment and remind yourself to stay as relaxed as possible.  The most important thing is that you get to marry your best friend and nothing else really matters.

Try to send thank you cards out right away.  If you don’t, you start to forget what each person bought you or if you already sent a card to them, etc.  It’s best to get it done and out of your hair right away.

I couldn't be any happier for this lovely couple!!!! Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Thorne!!

Wedding Wednesday | Jamie + Grant's Intimate Tennessee Wedding by Shannon Kelley Photography

Today we have a special treat to lay your eyes on - A Real Wedding by the seriously talented Shannon Kelley of Shannon Kelley Photography!  Shannon is not only inspiring behind the camera, but she's doing some pretty incredible things in her personal life as well.  In January, Shannon and her family will be moving to Haiti to do work with World Wide Village.  To learn more about this amazing woman and her journey be sure to read her blog.

Now for a little about this gorgeous wedding, from Shannon herself - 

Jamie and Grant are the perfect example of how you don't have to sacrifice beauty and details with a small wedding. They held a destination wedding for them and their family at a cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Jamie planned out the gorgeous details like the peacock feathers in her hair and for the boutonnieres. The small intimate wedding also let them incorporate really sweet details like each member getting to say a little something to them during the ceremony and, of course, some fun pictures of the whole family together. It was a great day to celebrate their beautiful wedding!

I am in so in love with Jamie's dress - it's the perfect combination of ethereal and sexy!  And are you kidding me with that gorgeous view and the peacock details - swoon!

I adore the emotion Shannon was able to capture - had it not been such an intimate ceremony, those moments could have gone unnoticed.  It truly is beautiful.

The details of this ceremony are exceptional - even the guest attire matched the wedding colors!

A huge thank you goes out to Shannon for sharing these beautiful images of Jamie and Grant's day!!  It's an honor to feature such a gorgeous and unique event :o)

Decorative Birdcage - My Current Wish List

If you read my post last Wednesday, you will know I am using a birdcage to place my family wedding photos on -- which will probably take two birdcages because of the amount of people in our family :) Along with that, I will be using birdcages other places too. My current wish list is inspired by just that :)

1) Black/Copper Birdcage/Wedding/Cardholder on Etsy.com - $40 - How cute is this!!
2) Woodland Chic Birdcage on Esty.com - $85 - Something a little different with a longer base, that happens to be from a lamp!
3) Two Round Brass Birdcage on save-on-crafts.com - $18.99 - Set of two for a such a cheap price, bargain!!
4) Vintage Wire Metal Birdcages on save-on-crafts.com - $59 - I LOVE these, they are a unique shape!

True Brides {Eric + Jami}

I might be a little bias for this True Bride Feature because it's me and my fiancé, Eric. We are getting married October 8th, 2011 at Saint Michael's Ridge Catholic Church in Defiance, Ohio. 

First things first, did I know about the engagement? "Eric and I had talked about it before, but I wasn't really sure on when it would happen. Then we didn't talk about it for a few months, so I honestly thought he didn't want to (ha!). Little did I know he was purchasing the ring and planning on asking me. So yes, I was surprised!"

Above: A goofy picture of Eric and I taken by our wonderful photographer, Montana of Montography out of Wauseon, Ohio. 

Now to the best part-----wedding questions!!!

One thing you were worried about when planning your wedding?

 One thing I worried about was money, probably like any other bride! I didn't want to make mine or Eric's parents or us pay a fortune for the wedding (and it's kind of working, ha). Another thing I worried about was the guest list because we know so many people....well my parents do :) And that's one thing I am still worrying about. 

What was the easiest vendor to book?

 Easiest vendor is....well a lot of them! Wedding cake vendor because my mom and grandma do this for a living. DJ because my dad has a friend at work that does it. Invitations because that is what my sister does for a living!!

What was the hardest vendor to book?

The hardest vendor was picking and booking a photographer because I am a HUGE critique when it comes to photos, simply because I love looking at them and taking them!! But once I found Montography I knew right then that's who I wanted!

Is there anything special that has been done for your wedding?

We had our own monogram made up by Laura Lavender, which is amazing!! I have also had a few personalized things made, which obviously is special to me and Eric. 

How was wedding dress shopping?

 Wedding dress shopping was an experience within itself. I had picked out about 6 pictures from magazines and had in mind what I wanted, but nothing was set in stone. My bridesmaids came with me and my mom to look at dresses the first time and I tried on SEVERAL different dresses! Well in the end, one of the pictures I picked out in the beginning ended up being my dress :) And it isn't something you would say, "Jami would wear that."

What’s been the most stressful part about the wedding?

 Most stressful...it goes along with the being worried question---the guest list. Oh, and Eric finishing his tasks I gave him for the wedding :) ha

What’s been the best part about the wedding?

Best part about the wedding - the whole planning experience! It's something that is challenging but fun that I get to do for myself and the man I'm going to marry!!! Eric and I get to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity with eachother!

Was choosing your wedding party hard or easy?

 It wasn't really hard at all. But I wish I could have added more people, but my wedding party would have been 50 by then, ha. And Eric had a real easy time picking out his groomsmen and ushers!

Have things gotten any easier as the wedding day approaches?

I wanna say yes, but I feel like there is more things I need to do and wayyyyy less time to do it!!




Amanda here - I just wanted to say a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the Future Mr. & Mrs. Eric Jesse!  We are all so excited for you big day and to see you start your lives together :o)

A Word to the Bridesmaids of the World

{Source}

No one wants to hear this, or say it for that matter - lol, but someone's gotta do it so here goes nothin' ;o)

I have ladies complain to me all the time about how expensive it is to be in their friend's wedding - the dress is too expensive, the color doesn't look good on me, she wants us to get our nails done, I have to buy new shoes, she wants me to throw her a shower, we're traveling out of town for her bachelorette party, she's making me tan. . . I've literally heard it all!  In fact, I've even been the one on the complaining train before. . . but that doesn't make what I'm about to say any less true.  In fact, it makes it more pertinent because I am admitting my previous wrongdoings - lol!

As a bridesmaid you go in knowing you're going to encounter expenses.  The thing you need to remember though, is this - you didn't have to say yes.  I know, that seems dramatic, but honestly, if you are concerned about the amount of time and money it's going to cost you to be a part of this wedding you should speak up to the bride.  Granted, I know no one is trying to burden a lady planning her big day, but it's much better to bring up a tough situation, whether it's involving time or money, at the beginning than a month before the wedding.  A bride will almost always understand your situation (we've all been there) and sometimes they'll even go the extra mile to help you out because they want you to be a party of their big day no matter how much it costs them out of their own pocket.  All it takes is a word, not a complaint to every person you encounter or a complete neglect of your bridesmaid duties. . . please don't neglect your bridesmaid duties, it makes us sad :o(

So my advice to you, the angry bridesmaids out there - suck it up and know when you become the one in the white dress walking down the aisle you'll ask your bridesmaids to do ridiculous things like buy a $100 pair of shoes because it's just exactly what you envisioned (don't think you won't - lol!).  Your bridesmaids will whine and complain and then do it anyway because it's your day :o)

Wedding Wednesday | Destination Beach Wedding

Destination Beach Wedding on Bridesmaid.com

This post was really cute and unique. One because it was a beach wedding, which are absolutely gorgeous weddings! Two because they decorated perfectly for their themed wedding. And three, because of this amazing idea of a seating chart. I would have never thought of this :)

They used this world map as a seating chart, with mini flags attached that had the guests name on it. They grouped guests in categories by Oceans, and used the Ocean names as table numbers :)

How Adorable!!! If you're planning a beach wedding or maybe even met your husband across the ocean, I think this idea would be perfect!

{DIY} Dying Lace for my Wedding

Have you ever tried dying lace before?

This was my first time trying, as well as my mother's (even though my mom totally did most of the work, ha). But it was hard!! Everyone that she had talked to said dying lace to a dark purple color was more difficult than any other color because after every wash, it lightens back up and rarely stayed dark. Well, that was exactly what it did every time. Mom thought she had the perfect color, and BAM, it changed as soon as you pulled it out of the dryer.

Mom was pulling up the lace from the dye, so I could see what it looked like.

Mom worked hard on the lace!!

This was out outcome. It was very pretty, but not exactly what we were going for :( So now mom and I are looking at purchasing some eggplant lace to use at the reception.

Feel free to make me feel better and share your stories about things that didn't exactly go the way you planned :) ha

Wedding Wednesday | My Wedding, A Mini Sneak Peek

So...you know how I have been pretty secretive about what's going on for my wedding - well today you get a first look at some of the items we will be using. I won't tell you exactly what we are doing with them, but that we are using them :)

(L to R): Deep Purple Calla Lilies , Cookie Buffet, Guest Book Frame, Mint Julip Cups

Above: Candles and Coffee

We are not using coffee beans, but we are using another type of bean to fill jars and place candles in. I have already tried them and they look beautiful. But of course, I won't ruin the surprise and tell you what kind of beans :) You will just have to attend my wedding or wait until pictures are up, ha. Doesn't everyone just LOVE reading my posts!

Hope you enjoyed the mini sneak peek :)

We're Still Here!

Hi!  Amanda here :o)

I just wanted to apologize for the lack of posts this week, it's prime time here in the studio prepping for all of our October weddings (Jami's included - yay!!!) so things have been a little hectic and blogging has unfortunately had to take a back seat.  We'll be back to our regular posting schedule tomorrow though!

Here's what we've been up to this week:

1}  We mailed Kristie and Dustin's invitation suite!  Remember the "Real Wedding Planning" Post from last year?  Yep, that's them!  We are so excited to finalize the planning details for their wedding this September :o)

2}  I designed, printed, assembled (aren't you intrigued to see what assembly was required?!?!?) and mailed Jami's Bridal Shower Invitations.  My mom, Eric's mom, our best friend (pretty much our sister - lol!) Sarah and I are throwing Jami a Rustic Milk and Cookies themed bridal shower inspired by Love and Lavender's Styled Shoot.  Remember the fun inspiration board (above) I created from the beautiful photos?  I can't wait to share all the incredible details we have planned for the party!!

3}  We've been putting the finishing touches on several client's invitations:

 - Kathryn and Dylan's Traditional Letterpress Suite
{Not only is this our first letterpress suite (YAY!!), but we are lucky enough to be working with Kseniya of Thomas-Printers!!}

- Meghan and Fred's Willow Tree Seeded Stock Suite
{I have had such a blast personalizing this suite with both Meghan and Fred - it's going to be lovely!}

- Lisa and Mike's Damask Seeded Stock Suite
{Yes, the Seeded Stock is so cool that everyone has fallen in love with it!!  It fits Lisa's down-to-earth personality perfectly!}

- Jami and Eric's Vintage Monogram Suite
{We've collaborated with the incredible Laura Lavender on this one - you're going to fall in love!!!}

- Stephanie and Don's Modern Bling Suite
{Bling is right!  I can't wait to share!!}

- DJ and Christy's Rehearsal Dinner Suite
{Simple elegance on this one - SWOON!!}

4}  We've also been collaborating on a few things with the beautiful Louise of London's Bijoux Bride!  We're working on some fun symbols for her blog and I've written a guest post for her that will be live next week!  Be on the lookout :o)

5}  Tonight's Book Club so there will be a special baci's baking post next Tuesday and the third installation of baci's book club will be up Thursday!  If you haven't joined, you totally should - we're having a great time discussing our favorite reads :o)

I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted just writing all of that out - lol!  Anyway, we truly appreciate your patience while we work through what has been the busiest time of baci so far (YAY!!).  We couldn't do this without all of you!  Thank you!!

Wedding Wednesday | Save Your Wedding Day Feet

An absolute must have on your wedding day and for every wedding planner's day-of kit - BAND-AID Active Friction Block Stick - about $7.00 at your local drugstore and worth every, single penny!!

This little deodorant-looking stick saved not only my feet, but the entire bridal parties' feet AND the bride's feet this past weekend at Katie and Kevin's wedding (photos from the big day coming soon!!).

The Friction Block Stick greases up your feet causing any rubbing parts of your shoes to simply stop rubbing. It is heaven on earth! I recommend putting it on at the beginning of the event before your shoes even get a chance to start rubbing and reapply as you see fit. I carried a stick in my dress pocket (which I think every bridesmaid dress should have, by the way!).

Now if only we had all been smart enough to put cushions in the bottoms of our shoes so the soles of our feet didn't hurt. . . lol!