Bride's Night Out

In the end it was a mother daughter evening, which was great. We were the first ones in the door as the event began. I liked this a 1,000 times better than the bridal shows at convention centers I've been to in the past. First of all, I have always wanted to go inside Nova 535 and it didn't disappoint. Secondly, I wasn't shoulder to shoulder with thousands of strangers unable to hold a conversation with anyone over the din. I wasn't squashed up against vendors booths I wanted nothing to do with or trying to crane my neck to see what the line was for. Thirdly there were cute waiters passing amazing h'orderves and a cash bar. Much better than the usual bridal show fare. They had one called the "fire and ice" that was coleslaw (which I don't normally like) and seared peppered tuna that was by far my favorite. I don't think I tried anything I didn't like all night.

I learned all about aqua beads. I couldn't stop touching them! They're squishy and cold. Apparently, they are made of silica gel like the stuff inside diapers. They soak up water so if you put them in colored water they're colored, like the pink ones in the bottom picture. That's the kind of material that gets your wheels turning. Neat-O. Although, I don't think our wedding has a place for such a thing I did tell my groom and head of reception decor all about it. We'll see...

Speaking of flowers, this display was so me (except for the scale): Tree branches (although they aren't willow she told me what they were, but I can't remember), sheet moss and sterling roses? She was reading my mind. This display was by a place called The Bride's Bouquet. You should have seen her face when I correctly identified sterling roses and wanted to know what kind of moss she'd used. I talked with her for a long time. Apparently, they had just done a Love & Science photo shoot at MOSI (can you imagine?!?) and she had some of the flowers with her. Am I a total nerd that the very idea of that thrilled me beyond belief? Here's me holding the amazing boutonniere
It has standard wire and large gage bare copper wire in it. For flowers they used echinacea, one small orange orchid and I'm not sure what the other flower is(I wasn't able to Google it, but if you click the link there should be a way to see pictures from the shoot) all wrapped in fine silver wire. I loved it, so she let me bring it home for Mike. Nice lady.

Speaking of Love & Science I was so taken by Nova 535 I kept imagining the wedding we'd have if it was our venue (which it very well could have been if we hadn't decided on spring). I see a fifty's theme. Short or calf length wedding dress. Probably the exact one modeled at Nova tonight by White Closet Co Breath taking, isn't it? Sigh. Same bridesmaids dress, but in a more feminine shade like lavender. Groom and groomsman rocking a Buddy Holly style 50's nerd look. We could use our debunked scientific discoveries table names. Mike would wear that crazy boutonniere. It'd be a great party, twisting the night away! It would still be very us. Just not as romantic as the theme we're doing. Double Sigh.

They had wedding planners, bakers, stationers, a calligrapher, a spa, a caterer, a DJ, Limo rental service, photo booth, a boutique, photographers and a hair and make-up service. It was a good group I thought. Just enough vendors to cover the spectrum without being overwhelming. Although, they also had a gym and I have to say that really bugs me. Whether there are girls looking to join a gym pre-wedding or not, diet programs and gyms are NOT wedding vendors. It make me sad to suggest everyone needs them. We wouldn't have engagement rings if someone didn't think we were beautiful just the way we are! Give me a minute to climb down from my soapbox or on second thought I ought to stay up here so I can reach my groom.

Hands down the most fun I have ever had at a "bridal show". I thoroughly enjoyed the food, music and general atmosphere. I even relly liked some of the paintings they had up. The art changes every four months (but they're careful to keep it "bride friendly"). I will now spend the rest of my existence coming up with a reason to rent Nova 535 for an event (I doubt, however, that it will take that long!). It was totally worth venturing out on a week night.

Night Off

Out for Bride's Night Out at Nova 535 look for a post tomorrow.

Wedding Ramblings

If Mike and I were into plastic mini me style cake toppers this one would win hands down. It's very us. I like that he's taller and lifting her up and she has a flower like mine. I'm terribly nervous the cake topper I want will never be in stock again. My brilliant maid of honor suggested checking E-bay. Duh, there are always people trying to unload wedding stuff they'll never use again. The issue being I don't like the stuff everyone else likes so there was nothing even approaching the cake topper I want. Speaking of "recycling" wedding stuff I think I'm going to re-invent the ring pillow someone gave me for a friends wedding and then again for my own. I can't tell you how much it thrills me to think of a $10 pillow being used at least 3 times.

Mike and I were brainstorming table name ideas for a friend's wedding last night and it occurred to me how many brilliant ideas we won't be able to use on the wedding. Until now it was just DIY projects I'd have to save for one of the kids birthday parties, but now we had some great ideas that would only be fun at a gathering of adults. Maybe that's what drive people to have second weddings. Honestly, at this point in planning I'm excited never to have to do this again so I just don't see it.

I'm still very much on the fence about the invitations, but the florist called with a decor idea that is making me lean more heavily one direction. Because everyone knows the invites have to match the decor, ha! I just hate being on the fence about stuff. I'm a decider, but between my unpredictable other half and all the options sometimes I feel like I'm blowing fuses. I am currently waiting for Mike to sketch the picture for the invitation. I know what most people I asked liked and which one fits better in the budget, but I need a clearer picture of the finished product.

Tomorrow night is the Bride's Night Out event. I'm excited to get out and doing something weddingy because there's been very little action after paying for my part of bridesmaids dresses. I thought we were going to have my whole wedding party and then some, but I'm cool going by myself if it comes to it. I promise to write all about it which reminds me I have to plug in my camera.

Bridesmaids Dinner

With my sister in town (YAY!!) it was time to gather team bride. All my beautiful bridesmaids came to dinner at Jonny Reno's tonight. It was 7 for dinner at 7:00 on the 7th. My mom and Mike's mom also joined us, of course. It just feels so girlly to get dressed up and go out to eat with your friends and moms.

It was a really fun evening. Food was great, service was good and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Yay, weeknights. I told everyone "Thank you so much for coming out on a weeknight. It's good practice for the wedding week." It was fun to have everyone in one place. We talked about wedding and non wedding stuff. There was never a lull. I got my coveted group shot and a few other great shots like this one:

Silly? Who, us?

I've said it before and I'll say it again I love my bridesmaids so much. They are all wonderful girls. They're all amazingly talented and have a wealth of experience all they own. I really couldn't ask for a better group. It's so important in times of stress/change (like a wedding) to have support system. I feel a lot of love, support and enthusiasm from the maids and moms. I'm very lucky on a lot of levels. We laughed at wedding horror stories and the whole time I sat secure in the notion that I'd be taken care of. Beyond the girls I have my family and Mike's family for support. New relatives can be unnerving for some brides, but I consider Mike's family to be my family already. As far as mother in laws go I pretty much hit the jackpot too. It was a great night.

With a great view...

Bridesmaids' Get Together

It wasn't all business, in fact it was mostly play. Sandy is an incredibly considerate bridesmaid, she called me before she got her very stylish and practical in Florida summer, haircut. She cut her hair with my blessing, but I appreciated the heads up. Speaking of thoughtful, please note my awesome bride headband that Lara brought me. Riley said "oh, Mommy pin-cses!". It was sweet. She decided if I was a Mommy princess than she was a “baby princess”. We watched a silly wedding movie and snacked. Riley sat very sweetly sharing my popcorn. When the movie was over I sent Riley to Daddy to tuck her in. At which point, I came back to my girls and announced "that concludes the Riley portion of our evening."

At that point, with both bridesmaids accounted for, I donned my bride headband and debriefed them on the projected timeline. Lara found the shoes the girls will be wearing yesterday, which was exciting. We talked dress fittings, big DIY projects, the shower, the bachelorette party, the rehearsal and of course the big day. They both had some really good feedback on the timeline and individual events. It's nice that they were both got married recently so it's all still fresh. On top of which all of my bridesmaids are sharp as tacks.

After the "meeting" portion of the evening concluded we bid Sandy a good night and put another movie in. We decided to assemble the last 14 save the dates while we watched. It didn't take long before they were done. I couldn't believe all the months of deciding, designing, ordering, waiting and assembling were over. After that we loaded them into the envelopes I'd already hand addressed with a brown fine tipped Sharpie. Just a tip (because it the opposite of what is usually done and I kept messing up): Magnets have to be mailed with magnetic side facing away from the address. In my case it meant opening the envelope to see the Kodak logo on the print paper and black magnet instead of a pretty picture of fairies in the woods. If I had thought it through better I might have cut some pretty paper, but I was ready to declare this project done.

After the save the dates were all correctly oriented in their envelopes we did my favorite thing, checked people off the list. In the end they were all accounted for, hurray! I'll be taking them to the post office Monday. I'm so glad I got to have a girly night and talk wedding for a few hours. I think we'll be getting together again in a few weeks when my sister flies in for dinner or something, fun stuff. After that we'll have dress fittings, super fun stuff.

My first wedding party event is behind me and my save the dates are mailbox ready, it's really happening.

Prepping for Bridemaids Night

So, I'm getting the girls together. I'll distribute their calendars (YAY!), contact sheets and save the dates which all match in dark green folders. When Mike heard me said "I have to finish making the packets" he rolled his eyes. That's why groomsmen don't have get-togethers and packets. In fact without email they'd never know what was going on. I digress.

I have 4 official bridesmaids (one is out of town) and 1 unofficial bridesmaid. My unofficial bridesmaid is invited and encouraged to participate in everything she wants too, but not required to buy a dress since she’s not standing with us. She is the ring bearer’s mommy has two kids under two and just moved 45ish minutes away. We love her, our BUB. So, I invited all the local girls to a girls’ night. I promised no hard labor just wedding movies, snacks and wedding talk.

BUB couldn't come so I met up with her early in the week to let the kids play and delivered her packet. I was expecting my 3 local bridesmaids until today. One of my bridesmaids had to leave town. I put her packet and the one for my out of town bridesmaid together and set them aside.

I confirmed the kids plans and evicted Mike from the living room tomorrow night. Even with the three of us it's good to have a girls’ night and catch everyone up. The only thing I'm sad about is not getting a group picture like I wanted, but we have time for that.

I made really good choices in my wedding party. I love them, so much. Hurry up, tomorrow.

The Cattle Call

Aka the Bridal Expo! It's a strange place. It reminds me of going to the big folk fair in Middle school, but instead of going booth to booth getting your passport stamped you go from booth to booth signing up to win engagement photos and bridesmaids jewelry.

The best part (just like the folk fair) is the food!

Here I sit happily sampling a cupcake and perusing their flavor options like “margarita and princess”. It was really yummy. They seemed really nice, but when I asked if they did custom flavors (assuming they did) they said No. Not just no, but "we only do the corporate mandated flavors." Lost a potential customer there, ladies. Too bad your such corporate tools. Of course I'd be totally conformist and trendy if I had cupcakes anyway, so pass. They did, upon seeing me shake my head and abandon the flyer, stammer "we can do different colors..."

Here's some beautifully displayed hors d'oeuvres. They even wore cafeteria gloves for my protection. I had something with garlic and goat cheese. It was good, but not amazing. Later I had a crab cake I can't stop thinking about. If that crab cake hadn't come attached to a hotel on the beach I would have been sold. Also, I already decided on a caterer that's special to Mike and I. That being said maybe we'll visit that beach hotel someday for crab cakes...

This bakery was trying to sell me on "wedding cookies" that was lost on me, but...

Aren't these mini pies adorable?

Don't you love pretty food?

Besides eating I talked to quite a few photographers (like this guy: Chi Photography). I still have my first choice, but I'm afraid he's so brilliant he'll be booked so I keep looking for acceptable plan b's (although, I think I found that already too). The other thing I was concerned about (I know it's early) is hair and make-up that will come to me.

The name of this place made me giggle. They gave me a coupon for a "$30 Blow" no kidding. They're an express salon which means no cuts just styling. They were too pricey for me in the end which is too bad because I would have loved to tell the maids to meet me at the Blow Bar.

These lovely folks were doing a demonstration of their hair skills. It's a supervised hair school so their rates are super reasonable. The bridal up do includes a trial in the price and they gave me a 20% coupon. The downside is they obviously can't come to me.

There were all manner of vanity-centric businesses there, but you have to giggle at this:

"What did you do today, Hank?"
"Went to the convention center and got my teeth bleached"
I prefer privacy when altering the hue of my chompers, maybe I'm alone there.

I got a lot of SWAG, but by far my favorite was this little beauty:


Squeezy stress bride, oh yeah. Love it. I squeezed it all the way home thinking about all the hissy fits I've endured with 8mo until D-day. Of course when I brought her home Riley claimed Mommy's "doll" for her own. It was about 30mins before my squeezy stress bride looked liked the estranged halves of a magicians assistant. Poor thing. Mike said "now you have one for each hand!"

There were a few odd booths like ADT security, really? When I think of weddings I think panic button. Also, Costco...

Here's me pointing out the Costco brochure has 20ish pages and only one half page of wedding stuff. Scheisters. Not that actual wedding vendors are much better.