More blue shoes...

I think I have finally found THE shoe! Okay, so it is slightly more complicated than that. First, I saw this red shoe on weddingbee.

Then (with the help of some bees), I found this shoe on Zappos.

I am pretty positive that it is the same shoe, so I'm thinking I can dye the shoes the proper color! So, where do I dye shoes? David's Bridal only dyes shoes purchased there. I've heard that payless dyes shoes, so I need to check there -- but please let me know if you know of any other places that dye shoes in so cal.

So, it is still not over -- Zappos only has the shoe in ivory, so I went ahead and purchased it in ivory; then I found it on endless.com in white, so I purchased those too! I know, crazy, but you never know! BTW-- I've already returned all of the other shoes I purchased.

My attempt at DIY...

So, the question is "how to do seating cards"? I know that the easy way is to simply have a small card with each person's name and their table name on the card and have them sitting in alphabetical order on a table. However, I saw these really cute pails at Target and had to buy them -- they match my daisy theme and one of my colors! But, what to do with them??? ( I bought 21 of them)


Then, my fmil gave me a chocolate daisy sucker for easter, and an idea came to me! I can make each guest a chocolate candy sucker (I've already found molds on ebay) with a tag hanging off of it with their name and table. But, how to display them??? I could just have the suckers lying on the table, but then I remembered the pails!!! I'm thinking I can use the pails to display 8 or 10 of the suckers fore guests to grab and find their table. So, today I played around with the idea, and the pictures below are the result. Now, I only have one sucker to work with right now, so you'll have to imagine it with more (about 8)... but you get the idea!



Here is how I did it. First I ran some turquoise ribbon through my Zyron sticker maker and used that on the top and bottom of the pail, then I put styrofoam inside the pail with spanish moss on top, and then I stuck the sucker in! Voila! All done in less than 5 minutes.

So, what do you think? Is it too cheesey? What can I do to make it look/work better? I will admit that I had no idea how expensive styrofoam was -- so I may need to find an alternative to that. Any ideas??

Blue Shoes...

Okay, so I have this idea in my head that I want to wear blue shoes with my wedding dress. I haven't had much luck finding "the ones" -- I ordered 10 pairs from endless.com and from zappos.com, of which only 2 pair fit and only 1 looked good -- but not quite right. So, here is my idea. I really like the pair of Nine West shoes I got, but they are too plain for my wedding. So, I was thinking that I could use some AB Clear Swarovoski crystals to add some "bling" to the shoes. First I thought I would just add a small little "flower of crystals" at the center of the front strap, but now I am thinking that I should add clusters of these little "flowers" on the entire front of the shoe. So, first there is a picture of the shoes -- the right shoe has one of the little crystal "flowers" I made on it. Then there is a close up of the flower I made -- it is not glued or sewen on, simple "tied" on with clear stretchy beading string. I'm thinking I can continue the pattern all along the strap. The other pair of shoes are the ones I bought at Macy's with my mom. I like them, but I kinda want something a little different. What do you think???

Thoughts, ideas, and opinions please...

Make-up Preview

Hello! I am finally back to posting about my wedding. Sorry for the hiatus, just been swamped at work. I've paid to have three make-up previews, and I think I've finally found someone I can work with! She uses mineral make-up (which I wear everyday) and she knows how to make it matte (mineral make-up has a tendency to shine or glow in pictures). The pictures I am posting are of 1) immediatly after the preview outside her studio at around 3:00 in the afternoon, 2) & 3) later that night at dinner around 9pm. The only touch-up I made was lipstick. I think the make-up wore very well. Maybe I need more blush? I am planning on wearing longer eyelashes on the wedding day -- especially on the outer corners. Okay -- opinions please! I am also open to suggestions!!

Hair comes the... Oh sorry, we're booked!

If you don't want to read a gripe then stop here... Here is the story... My fsil cancelled her wedding over a year before the scheduled date, most of her vendors returned the "non-refundable" deposits, except "Hair Comes the Bride". She left them a $150 deposit for a hair and make-up preview and to hold her date. My fmil called them about two weeks ago and explained to them that her son is engaged and asked if I could use my fsil's deposit. They said yes and confimed that my August 9th date was available, she gave them my phone number and they said they would contact me. After not hearing from them (I waited a week), I went ahead and called them. I called around 4 in the afternoon and got a voicemail message, I left a message with my number and told them to call anytime after 3:00. The next day they called and left me a message at 2pm. I called back around 3pm and left a message (this message game went on for a week) -- apparently this business does not answer their phones. On Thursday I was contacted around 2pm and the message said that she would be in the office until 4:30pm. I got the message at 4:00 and called back right away, once again I got voicemail. Yesterday (Friday) I got off work early, so this time I was able to answer when they called. Finally! I was so happy to finally be able to set up my preview. The lady took all of my information and then put my on hold to check her datebook. She came back on the line and said that they were unavailable for my date. I was shocked -- I explained to her that my fmil called two weeks before and confirmed that my date was available and that the deposit could be transferred to me. The lady said that that was 2 weeks ago, and now the date is booked. I tried explaining to her that she never contacted me after my fmil called her -- that I had to contact her and that I left numerous messages. Her response was "Well, we have a non-refundable deposit, and since we are already booked on your date there is nothing we can do." She didn't even say sorry. I asked her why she didn't mark my date as booked when my fmil called to transfer the deposit to me, and she said because she hadn't talked to me --then I asked why she didn't call me asap after talking to my fmil and she just repeated that the money is non-refundable. Her name is Melissa (pronounce MayLisa).
Okay -- sorry so long -- I told her that in a service based industry you are supposed to work with your customers, and that it seemed like she had just decided that the $150 deposit was "Free" money and she didn't want to have to work for it, so she booked my date (if it is even really booked) after my fmil called so she wouldn't have to do my hair and make-up. She said "believe what you want to believe, the contract is non-refundable".
So -- I understand the Non-Refundable deposit thing -- that is not the issue. This company obviously has no respect for its customers and does not understand the meaning of customer service. I strongly suggest that no one uses this company for their hair and make-up. In addition, I am going to be spreading the word not to use them anywhere I can.
Sorry for the long post.. anyone know of an affordable hair person in so cal? (I've already got a make-up person lined up).

Flowers...

I just got home from the LA flower district and I am soooo glad I went there! I ended up getting ALL of my wedding flowers for under $700! 18 center pieces, 6 corsages, 10 boutonnieres, 4 bridesmaid bouquets, my bouquet, and flowers for the arbor. I am so excited. I priced all of this online and it worked out to be over $1500. I put $100 down, and the balance is due 1 month before the wedding. The picture is of the "mock" center piece they made for me to take home. The center pieces are yellow margarita daisies, white gerberas, fern, and baby's breath in glass square vase, with 3 yellow gerberas coming out of the top with a white ribbon. My bridesmaids will be carrying three yellow gerberas wrapped with silver ribbon, and I will be carrying a bouquet of white margarita daisies with yellow gerberas and fern.

The invitations are here!

When I came home from running errands this afternoon, there they were, waiting for me on the porch in a plain brown box. I ran up the stairs and knew that inside that boring box were my invitations -- exciting! I opened it right away to inspect my loot, and saw how perfect they are! So happy!
Here is a link to my invites: Invitations by Dawn -- the text is in Turquoise and we went with the pearl lined envelopes to match the daisies on the invite!

Spring Break...

Well, I've been a busy bee over the past week, and this week is going to be even crazier because I'm on spring break. So, last weekend my moh and I went to LA to:

1. Look at wedding cakes in China town
2. Check out hotels in Westwood
3. Find a decent nail salon in Westwood
4. Find a place that does hair and make-up (for a reasonable price) in Westwood

I would consider this trip one of the most successful we've been on. We managed to not only look at wedding cakes, but after only an hour pick one I liked and order it! I love China town -- we ended up getting it at Wonder Bakery. I'd post a picture, but the only pic I have was taken with my moh's cell phone and the cake was behind glass with bad lighting. It is a sweet and simple cake -- only two layers, one 10" and one 8" round. The cake is called "bridal white" and it has fresh strawberries w/bavarian creme filling. It will be frosted with whipped cream and decorated with buttercream daisies that look like they are "growing" from the bottom layer and lady bugs on the leaves. Yummy! Best of all it feeds between 75 - 85 people for only $185.00! Ok, so yes I know we are having more than 85 people at our wedding, but we are also doing a Vienesse sweet table, so I don't see the point in having enough cake for everyone. We also ordered a birthday cake for my grandma - she is turning 90 the day of our rehearsal dinner, so we are throwing a suprise party at the rehearsal!

We also made a hotel reservation! After looking at a few near the UCLA campus, we finally decided to get the "mega suite" at the W. It was cheaper for all the bm's and me to chip in and pay for one suite than have us each get our own room . The suite has 2 bedrooms, 2 couches (one pullout bed), two bathrooms with a total of 3 sinks, 2 showers, and a separate bathtub. It is 1,200 sq ft -- that is almost double the size of my condo!

Nail Salon -- there were so many and they all charge between $25 - $35 for mani/pedi -- so we are going down again this Thursday to check them out.

Hair and Make-up -- Me and two of my bm's have appointments to do hair and make-up this Thursday at a place called Ali's. The owner was very funny and said he would work with our budget. I'll keep you updated.

Okay, so now this week I have a ton of appointments for make-up and hair, I'm getting my hair colored again (it has been a long time), I'm going to the LA flower district, and I have an appointment for eyelash extensions (for our engagement photo on April 6th). What fun!

Flower Inspiration: Centerpeices

A little color; simple and maybe a little wild.

Round and full; good color contrast

Modern and simple; but a little on the wild side.

Sweet and simple; but a little wild.

So, what do you think? So far my bridesmaids are all leaning towards #2.

It's a brand new day...

Okay, so last night I went to my fmil's house to go over the invite list. My family is inviting about 50 people (35 that I think can make it to the wedding). So, my fh and I decided that his family would also be allowed to invite 50 people. Well, we went through the list and before we got to the "out of country" invitees (whom we know won't be able to make it, so I guess they don't count) we were at over 78 people. Just when I was about to mention to my fmil that cuts would need to be made, my fh's grandpa walked in the room. He asked how everything was going, and I said "fine", then he said, "I'd like to help out, I'd like to give you $5000 towards the wedding." OMG! I didn't know what to do; in my family that would be such a big deal. As it is, my parents are giving us $10,000 for the wedding, and this is a HUGE deal. I am paying for the rest of the expenses myself, and my fh is paying for the honeymoon. Grandpa told me that the money was to be used on the wedding and not the honeymoon and that he wanted us to be able to invite whomever we wanted without worrying. I cried. Wow. My fh said that he wasn't surprised because grandpa has money and no way to spend it. He also thinks it funny that grandpa is giving me the moneyand not him. So now things have changed a bit. The wedding will be bigger than planned, 150 instead of 100 guests, and now I can hire a florist (was diy) and I can get a wedding cake. I'm also going to buy a digital video camera and have my brother video the wedding for us. I still can't believe it. Now I won't have to put everything on credit and we can start our marriage debt free! I'm all smiles today!