The Wedding {Part Two}

Once I was ready, my photographer and I headed downstairs to the waiting limo.  Brad was on his way to our "First Look" location-- where we got engaged, with his dad.  For our "First Look" Brad was positioned inside the gazebo with his back turned to the direction I was coming from.  When everything was set-up by our photographers, I started walking towards Brad and our photographer told him to turn around.  When I got to Brad I remember asking him if he liked my dress.  He said yes.  I asked him if it was what he was expecting.  He said he thought I would go with something simpler.  Ha!

Brad and I took some photos in and around the gazebo.  Then, we went over to the Chemistry building for photos.  Soon our bridal party arrived in the limo.  We went around campus taking photos at various locations for a little over 2 hours.

We arrived at our wedding location around 4:00PM.  I say wedding location because we had our ceremony and reception at the same location.  Many members of our families were already there for photos before the ceremony, which was at 5:30PM.  We took photos with my side of the family and relaxed a little bit.  My bridesmaids went to work to get the dirt marks off of my dress from taking photos.

A little before 5:00PM the bridesmaids and I went into hiding in our reception room while guests started to arrive.  Then it was time to line up for the ceremony.  The music started... and to my horror it started to cut out as the grandparents and mothers were being seated.  I remember looking at my Maid of Honor, probably with my eyes bulging out of my head.  She looked at me and reassured me, "It's fine.  Don't worry.  He'll fix it" (meaning the DJ).  The music a couple more times, and I flinched.  Why was this happening?!  It cut out again as my bridesmaids started to go down the aisle.  My day-of coordinator finally looked at me and said, "I hope he fixes this and it doesn't cut out while you're walking".  Luckily, he did fix the problem-- the music didn't cut out as I walked down the aisle with my dad and step-dad.

Our ceremony went smoothly.  Well, except for me having to have our officiant repeat 2 lines of our vows for me.  I had the worse case of cotton mouth.  It was so hard to talk.  All I wanted was a glass of water.  After I messed up the first time, I thought that I was repeating everything wrong.  Brad was sure to remind me later that he said everything perfectly, and I was the one who goofed.

After the ceremony, Brad and I, along with our bridal party and parents went back into the reception room.  Everyone said congrats and gave us hugs.  We signed our marriage license.  I drank some water.  Then, it was time to move on to photos with Brad's family, followed by cocktail hour and the reception!

Working on the Ceremony

{source}

Brad and I worked on our ceremony last night.

The goal was to select our vows, exchanging of the rings, and readings.

We even get bonus points because we talked about our first dance song choices--

which we've narrowed down to two... the two that we've been debating over for months.

Love Song by 311 OR Stay With You by John Legend

So I don't really know if we get bonus points for that. But at least we revisited the topic.

Ah! But we did choose our cake cutting song ... I Wanna Grow Old With You by Adam Sandler.

:)

Back to the ceremony.

I think we're going to stay with more tradition vows.

We're still up in the air on the exchanging of the rings.

We really liked the following two readings.

The Art of Marriage by Wilferd A. Peterson

The little things are the big things.

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted;

the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,

it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,

but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating

gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

Love Is by Susan Polis Schutz

Love is

being happy for the other person

when they are happy

being sad for the other person when they are sad

being together in good times

and being together in bad times

Love is the source of strength

Love is

being honest with yourself at all times

being honest with the other person at all times

telling, listening, respecting the truth

and never pretending

Love is the source of reality

Love is

an understanding that is so complete that

you feel as if you are a part of the other person

accepting the other person just the way they are

and not trying to change them to be something else

Love is the source of unity

Love is

the freedom to pursue your own desires

while sharing your experience with the other person

the growth of one individual along side of

and together with the growth of another individual

Love is the source of success

Love is

the excitement of planning things together

the excitement of doing things together

Love is the source of the future

Love is

the fury of the storm

the calm of the rainbow

Love is the source of passion

Love is

giving and taking in a daily situation

being patient with each other's needs and desires

Love is the source of sharing

Love is

knowing that the other person

will always be with you regardless of what happens

missing the other person when they are away

but remaining near in heart at all times

Love is the source of security

Love is

the source of life

What kind of vows, exchanging of the rings, and readings did you go with or are you going with?

You say flower balls, I say pomanders.

I call them pomanders. I don't like the term "flower balls". They look too pretty to be called "balls". Anyway, I finished my first crepe paper pomander. I'm using them as aisle decorations.

The directions on how to make them can be found here:
http://houseofsmiths.blogspot.com/2010/02/hanging-roses-i-was-browsing-blogs.html. (I ♥ this blog!)

Here is a video of Shelley from House of Smiths demonstrating how to make the crepe paper roses: http://houseofsmiths.blogspot.com/p/press.html

I used a 5 inch white Styrofoam ball form and light pink crepe paper from W*lmart ($1.25 each). The key is to use a 40% or 50% off coupon to buy the Styrofoam balls-- they're pricey. They come out to be about $2.50 with the coupons.

Jack wanted his picture taken with the pomander.

Now, I just need to decide what color of ribbon to use--green, white, or green with white polka dots. What do you think?

Eeny Meeny Miny Mo

Sometimes I wonder if I'm completing my DIY projects too soon. What if I get all them done by Christmas and I have nothing to do from January to June?! Yes, this is a thought that crept into my mind today. I know. Ridiculous.

So I'm on to my next DIY projects. I just need to choose what to do next.


I want to decorate the aisle with pomanders. I was planning on doing moss pomanders, but then I came across these gorgeous crepe paper pomanders (from House of Smiths-- awesome blog!). That pink one would look ah-mazing with a beautiful green ribbon hanger and bow. This project looks like it would take a while too, so that would help with my finishing-my-DIY-projects-too-soon phobia. Hmmm...


I want to make a "Just Married" parasol. I have the parasol. It was free. FI's youngest brother had a big party this summer and some girl left it behind and never retrieved it. Score. So if I royally mess it up I won't be as mad at myself since I'm not financially attached to the parasol. :)


I think I've changed my mind about putting a wreath on the fireplace. Instead, I think I want to put giant moss covered letters (FI and I's initials and an ampersand: C & B) on the mantel.

Pretty Program Box

I finished our program box tonight. I started it yesterday so this has been my fastest DIY project so far. Yay!

I was inspired by this program box/card box that I found on Etsy a few months ago (FYI, the seller, Shea Chic Designs, has evidently filed for bankruptcy recently. She didn't send a ton of buyers their purchases and owes many of them money. Not good.). Now, back to happy thoughts of DIY!

I used the same green paint that I used for my card box. I also used the same kind of pink peony that I used for my topiaries, except I edited it a bit to get it to lay more flat.

My supplies:
10" paper mache box (JoAnn Fabric)
Paint (Lowe's)
Sponge brush (Lowe's)
Silk peony (JoAnn Fabric)
Ribbon (JoAnn Fabric)
Rhinestone button (JoAnn Fabric)
Double-sided tape
Glue gun & glue
Scissors


Instructions:
1. Paint the inside and outside of the paper mache box. 2-3 coats is best. Allow for ample drying time in between coats.

2. To get the flower to lay more flat, carefully cut out the first layer of clear pieces inside the flower that lift the petals. If needed, apply double-sided tape in between some petals and adhere petals to one another in order for them to lay flat.

3. Cut the yellow center off of the flower.

4. Cut the button part off the back of the rhinestone button.

5. Apply glue to the center of the peony.


6. Stick the rhinestone button onto the glue and hold in place while it dries.

7. When paint is dry on box, begin applying ribbon, securing with double-sided tape.


8. Make bow by cutting approximately 20 inches of ribbon. Make two big loops with the ribbon.


9. Secure the loops with small bead lines of glue at each lower fold and/or where the two pieces of ribbon meet.


10. Glue the peony to the bow.


11. Glue the bow/peony to the box on top of the ribbon.

"Music is what feelings sound like."

I'm a music lover. I love all kinds of music--rap, indie pop, downtempo, hip-hop, classic rock, alternative, acoustic, alternative rock, pop, r&b, top 40. I will admit, I have to go light on country. Love me some Rascal Flatts, though! FI loves music as well. He's been playing electric and acoustic guitar for 10 years. So needless to say, music is going to play a large part in our special day.

One song that I kept hearing was "She is Love" by Parachute. We'll probably play this during cocktail hour or dinner.


We've chosen "You and Me" by Dave Matthews Band for our recessional (beginning around 1:02).


One of our first dance song contenders is "Stay With You" by John Legend.


The other first dance song contender is "Love Song" by The Cure, performed by 311.


Another song that I love is "Lucky" by Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat.


I don't know where I would fit this song into our day, but I really like it. I found it a few years ago on myspace music. "Man and Wife" by Michelle Featherstone. I love her voice and the lyrics.


Who doesn't like Michael Buble? "Everything" by Micheal Buble.


I attended a wedding this weekend where the bride walked down the aisle to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" performed by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. It was beautiful.

Topiary Fun!

We're getting married in front of a large, double-sided, stone fireplace. I decided to make two pink peony topiaries to set on the left and right ledges of the fireplace.

I set out, purchased, and gathered the following materials:

• Two 6 inch foam balls (JoAnn Fabric)
  
• Two white pots (Menards)
  
• Silk pink peony sprays (JoAnn Fabric)
• Floral foam (Dollar Tree)
• One bag of Spanish Moss (Michael's)
• Bundle of 5 twisted willow branches (JoAnn Fabric)
• Scotchgard (Walmart)
• Hot glue gun
• Tape measure
  
• Hedge clippers
• Knife

Instructions for how to make one topiary:

1. Take the peony heads off of the stems.

2. Begin placing some of the peonies in the foam ball to determine spacing.

3. After determining spacing, remove the peonies.

4. Begin applying hot glue to the green tip of peony and inserting it in the pre-made hole.

5. Continue step 4 until the entire ball is covered with peonies.

6. Insert 4 floral foam pieces into the pot

7. Determine the center of the pot and insert a bundle of twisted willow branches into the floral foam.

8. Use the remaining 4 floral foam pieces to secure the willow branches in the pot. You may need to use your knife to cut the foam to fit.

9. With your tape measure, measure 16 inches up the willow branches and make a notch with your scissors or knife.

10. With your hedge clippers, chop off the willow branches above your notch.

11. Take your peony ball and insert it on top of the willow branches, making at least a 1 inch hole in the foam.

12. Insert hot glue into hole in foam in peony ball and immediately place on top of willow branches. Hold it in place for a few minutes, allowing the glue to dry.

13. Lay the Spanish moss over the floral foam in the pot, covering it so that the floral foam is not visible. If you wish to secure the moss, glue it to the floral foam using the glue gun.

Here is the breakdown of the expenses:
2 white pots: $12.00
2 stryofoam balls: $5.00
4 bundles of silk pink peonies: $37.52
4 packages of 4 pieces of floral foam: $4.00
1 bag of Spanish moss: $2.50
2 bundles of 4 willow branches: $2.50
TOTAL: $63.52 for two... $31.76 each

Yeah, I know, they were kind of pricey. But I can use them as a decor piece in our home after the wedding, or I can sell them with my other wedding items and hopefully recoup some of the costs. Plus, when my florist mentioned topiaries for our ceremony she quoted me $65-$155 per topiary (although they would be larger), so I think I definitely saved when looking at it from that perspective.

Vitamin String Quartet

I didn't know about the Vitamin String Quartet until I came across them on theknot.com discussion boards. Numerous ladies kept mentioning them so I had to do a google search. I instantly fell in love. Since a string quartet isn't in our budget I plan on having our DJ play a selection of Vitamin String Quartet songs as our guests enter and wait for the ceremony to begin. I'll probably incorporate a song or two of theirs into the processional.
These are my favorites:

• I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Crazy Love by Van Morrison, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Love Remains the Same by Gavin Rossdale, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Look After You by the Fray, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Beautiful Day by U2, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet
  

• Dare You To Move by Switchfoot, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Home by Michael Buble, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Realize by Colbie Caillat, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Hey, There Delilah by the Plain White T's, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Bubbly by Colbie Caillat, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Love Song by The Cure, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

• Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet

I'm Yours by Jason Mraz



Dare You to Move by Switchfoot



Love Remains the Same by Gavin Rossdale



Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional


Beautiful Day by U2