Ups and Downs

So 8 months to go...there are times when I dread how much there is to get done and other times where I'm on a roll!!  I haven't done much in the last couple of months but the last couple of weeks have been non stop!  I GOT MY DRESS!!! I did go by myself...I'm not sure I could of handled anyone with me.  The morning didn't start out so well so I wasn't in the best of moods.  I didn't really go to actually buy one, just try on.  The first store was European Bridal, small, cute, quaint and super nice staff.  Not many dresses to chose from but I was originally interested in a La Sposa and the store had some similar to the model I had been eyeing...as with almost every other dress I tried on...cheapy looking.  After two dresses I left.

Second store was every mother who thinks their daughter is the most beautiful and a store who thinks their the s*#^.  I had to walk through and look at all the dresses myself, no one was there to point me towards anything.  It was horrible even though I got the only nice old lady helper they had.  Tried on two dresses...one was interesting but didn't catch my heart.

Third store...can we say 4,000 dresses!?!?!  WTF?!?!? I got introduced to the store with 3 other brides...assigned a rack and told to "go get em yourself."  Are you kidding me?!?!  I am one of the most non girly girls there are and that means I know almost nothing about this...I have not been dreaming of this day since I was born and I did not bring a massive entourage to help me sift through 4,000 dresses! (and then I got hungry)  Somehow they organize it so that you're left in front of the racks with $4,000-$10,000 dresses...I thought what the heck...might as well see what a NICE dress really looks like before I have to dig through the other 3,900 crappy ones.  Yes I ooohed and aaahhed my way through the nice pile and ooops...I picked out one that must have been on the wrong rack due to the much lower price...stuck it in my pile and kept sifting.  20 minutes and about 800 dresses later I met the sales lady assigned to me...Jesus and God do exist....she plowed through all the remaining dresses in a matter of another 20 minutes and we had quite the pile!  Then it was try on time...in a room full of 6 other brides, their mothers and whoever else they brought...WITH NO WALLS!!!  Yes, I was changing in front of them and they were changing in front of me.  I got over it by the second dress because I was actually starting to have fun! 10 dresses later and 2 maybes I tried on the 11th dress...which happened to be the very 1st one I picked off the "expensive" rack.  My sales lady was gone for a second so I slipped into the dress and zipped it up...and as I started to look in the mirror my sales lady came back...my jaw dropped....and she grinned.  This was it.  Delicate but not too girly...hugged my curves...and was actually reaching the floor!  Then I looked at the price tag...I groaned...I could not afford this.  I thought I was going to cry...and then my sales lady said...don't get upset yet...I'll be right back.  Five minutes later she came back in and handed me a piece of paper with a much lower number on it...STILL not low enough...I started thanking her and said, "I wish I could just buy this exact one, it's in great shape and it already fits perfectly."  Her response was, "You would take the sample?" "Heck yeah!" I said.  She said she'd be right back again.  My hopes started rising.  She came back and handed me another piece of paper...finally!  Something reasonably close to my budget!! I told her I'd take it...and now I am the proud owner of a Marisa dress! (my parents love it too)

Love is...

Love is...

years of collecting a comic strip and passing them on to a daughter...who now loves them just as much...and who wishes Kim Casali was still alive to create them.  So this is the theme of my reception, along with the recycled theme.  All the items I'm gathering are from the 70's.  I have old Love is... postcards for my table numbers and even an absolutely adorable Love is... figurine for the cake topper.  Those comic,s that were saved, will end up somewhere in the room too.

...knowing you've found the one.

Early Frustration

Getting a little frustrated with the invitation and soy candles.  Both of my molds tore...trying latex this time.  I have my save the date half done but I'm struggling to find black, recycled, open ended #10 envelopes...it's just impossible unless I want to spend $50 on 100 envelopes!!!  I am happy with the list of photographers we're coming up with though...so something is going right...11 months to go!

Diving Into Soy

Last night I took my first dive into soy wax.  Who knew trans fat could be so fun!  I am on the road of DIY but more concerned with trying to make this wedding as eco friendly as possible.  I know I will completely fail in some areas (polyester table cloths and bottled water at the ceremony) but I’m really really trying.  I have been insistent on as many soy candles as possible for many reasons.  Soy wax is obviously a bi product of soy beans, which is a sustainable crop used to help replenish the earth.  I do have issues with the land being overhauled to be a crop field in the first place but at least soy helps the soil.  I’m also soft up for soy because it burns so much cleaner than paraffin and therefore does not release as much soot and definitely does not release the carcinogens into the air that paraffin does...and then there’s that whole dependent on foreign oil issue…which we need to make paraffin.  Soy also burns at a lesser temperature which eliminates the need for metal core wicks.  I could go on and on but you’re getting the point.  This morning I water tested them after breaking them out of the molds.  I’m struggling a bit with the molds, one has a big tear in it now…hopefully it will still seal shut when I pour more.  The water test did great, going to check it at lunch to make sure it’s still floating.  Did you know all candles float?  They do!  Stick a screw in the bottom of a taper and it will even float…and slowly rise as the candle burns.  Useless fact #10 of the universe.

It Begins

Today it finally begins.  I've been doing little things here and there but everything comes to a stand still until you pick the reception site and date.  Originally we wanted August 6th but an arts group has claimed every first Saturday so we moved it up a weekend.  Close enough.  Reception will be held at Arts Place.  Following the wedding at Gratz Park.

I just finished my mocks of the invitation.  Off to mothers to get approved and then we will test print.

I also have scheduled my candle making day for this coming Wednesday...nothing like DIY!