The Registry

Ah... new things. New shiny new things. New things that we didn't have to purchase ourselves! It's the excitement of registering for gifts. I hope to have this done by the middle of June, and in the mean time have been searching lists and lists of what we should be registering for. So that got me thinking - what do you register for?

All of the lists out there seem to think that you need so many of this, and so many of that. Who needs 6 lamps, fine china, or fancy napkins? Obviously someone! When the FI and I merged our things last summer when I moved in to his already furnished house, we went through each others things and determined whose duplicates of measuring cups, measuring spoons, eating utensils, water pitchers, etc. would stay, or which ones would be donated/thrown out (we did donate a TON of stuff). It was due to the fact that I had been living on my own for 9 years prior to that, and the last 4 years in a condo that was 98% furnished. Needless to say, there was a lot of stuff.

After reading through these lists... it became more and more clear that maybe we really just needed to upgrade some things. I know he would love for me to have a Kuerig, as my current coffee maker (still in a great condition) would always make a mess of the water when I was done, and a Kuerig would solve that. I had been looking at new comforters/bedding for awhile, so maybe this was the time to get that. Of course, I was looking WAY before we got engaged - so luckily I never bought anything. Brand new towels for the bathrooms would be nice, as ours are just a collection of what we both had prior - as long as they were in very good shape. Other small kitchen appliances would be nice too, like a good food processor or small crock pot for dips. I'm sure I could come up with other examples too.

And... a honeymoon fund. I read countless posts on Wedding blogs/message boards and the consensus is - DON'T DO IT. But I think, why not? Some of these people are the same ones who feel that it's tacky to have guests pay for drinks and that an open bar (or no bar at all) is the only acceptable route to go. Seriously? Maybe in some places, but I'm pretty sure that no wedding I have ever been to has had people complaining about the fact that they have to pay or drinks. To each their own, I suppose. Anyway... we have been discussing possible honeymoon vacations (St. Lucia), and it would be nice to get the money to go there, even if it's in cash. I know asking for straight up cash is rude... but I guess when you have a registry that doesn't have a ton of options on it, people may get the hint to go that route. Gift cards would work too, and with the way I spend money at Target - greatly appreciated!

So, in conclusion... you wouldn't think that a Registry would have to have so much thought put into it... but you do. Getting to the store with the power of that scanner in hand - anything is possible! Heck, I had a friends now husband scan in some mac and cheese boxes - ha! Hopefully we can have a game plan going on before we enter said store(s) - and some store browsing and note taken may need to begin real soon though. If something is forgotten, if can always be added later.

Play that funky music!

It really was never a debate. He wanted a band, and I just wanted to make sure that certain songs were played. Ya know, the first dance, mother/son & father/daughter, and maybe a fun wedding party song. After reaching out to a band we saw at another wedding dance a few months back, we figured we'd see if they were available. If yes, great. If not, time to figure something out.

Well, they were available and their cost wasn't AS much as we had originally thought. Which I guess was good and bad. Would a DJ be cheaper? Probably Or should we just go for it and have a great time to end the day festivities?

After confirming that they'll be able to play whatever songs we want during dinner, being able to play all of those "traditional" dances, and getting done 15 minutes before we get kicked out of the reception hall (to play two night ending song) - we booked! I can definitely say that I am excited, as it will be something we can look back on and say that we did. Yes, a DJ does have some perks... but a band is just plain 'ol fun.

Oh, the bridesmaid dresses got ordered last week! One more thing to cross off the list. I think each of the two will look great together, and the blue will look really nice. They're supposed to come in sometime in August - so here's hoping!

So, now I can say that the following has been done:

• Reception venue
• Ceremony venue
• Officiant
• Photographer
• Band
• Wedding dress
• Bridesmaid dresses
• Wedding band

Time to focus on some little things before getting to more major things in a few months. Next up - invitations!

Making it Official

We met with the Officiant last night, and were really impressed. She was really nice and seems very "go with the flow". It is awesome that we pretty much get to customize how our ceremony will be in terms of what is said and the length. He is thinking less than 10, but I am hopping for at least 10 to make it a little bit more memorable. But, we'll see what gets played out.

She gave us examples of readings, verses, vows, unity items, and more to use. We mainly just have to go through the material and pick which ones we want, or if we like a couple - we can combine and she'll make it work. I love that.

Ya know, I never mind sitting through a wedding ceremony... but it always seemed to go on forever when the pastor/priest did the sermon. I know that's nice and all, but to me - it's not needed. Let us do the other stuff, skip a sermon, and make it official. She is pretty much doing that.


In other news, we sent the tentative booking information to the band we're getting... so that is exciting. The whole time we have thought about doing a band instead of a DJ. For one, everyone does DJ's and sometimes the cheesiness that they bring can be too much (inflatables, feather boas, games, etc.). We have seen this band play before at wedding receptions and enjoyed that all they did was play music - and good music. It's also nice that they are able to play certain songs that we want (like couples dance, father/daughter/mother/son), as music is important to me. I think they'll do a good job to cap off the celebration. We both have a lot of friends that dance, too.

Next up - Flowers, Cake and the little things. Oh, and maybe some engagement pics too.

Say Yes to the Dress... for reals!

After visiting 7 stores (yes, 7), and trying on countless dresses in the style I was looking for - I found "the one"! It was actually at Store #3, and after trying it on... I knew I loved it. It fit well, gave me the amount of curves I wanted and had other features that I was impressed with. And the bonus - it was under $1K!

There were 2 other dresses that had caught my eye as well. One was almost too basic, but still very nice on me (and great price, too). Plus, the store owner was great to work with. It kind of made me sad that I didn't get that dress based on the service alone... but I would consider going there for other things (like jewelry). The other was amazing with features (thinner v-neck straps, lace with a Swiss dot lace underneath, small belt, small keyhole back, corset tie in the back), but it was WAY over what I was wanting to pay. Had it been maybe $1,200 instead of $1,500, I would have justified the cost - as it was a nice dress and also fit me really well. However, the size I tried on was way big, so I wasn't sure that once I ordered the dress in my size, that it would still be as flattering. In addition, this place did not allow pictures and cut the tags out of the dress, so I wasn't able to locate in online to view a zillion times to make a decision.

I am happy with my dress, and can't wait until it comes in... in like 4-5 months. Now I'll be on the hunt for jewelry (thinking pearls), shoes and a veil. The store I got my dress at gave me a $150 store credit, so that can be at least used for a veil - which may have some subtle bling since my dress won't have any of that, which is OK actually. It's nice to have that decision out of the way.

I have also decided on a bridesmaid dress color - Mediterranean Blue according to Alfred Angelo. They're about 10 different long styles dresses to choose from, so finding a flattering style should be easier. I asked my sister to be my MOH when I saw her a couple weekends ago, and then asked Blair's sister last week to be my bridesmaid. Her and I went dress shopping last night, and she found a very flattering dress at a local store. My sister plans on going this weekend to find a style that will suit her. Good deals!!

We also booked out photographer, and I am very excited to work with her. She does weddings, engagement shoots, and families. I know a few people who have used her for family pics, and she has nothing but great reviews... so that is nice. Next week we meet with our Officiant and will hopefully have her booked. Then next will be the band. :)

I am happy that all of our big things are coming together. It's been a very productive couple of weeks.

Say Yes to The Dress

OK... so not yet... but it has started!

I went to my first wedding dress appointment yesterday and was partially nervous, but also excited. I know the type of dress I'm looking for and know that I don't want to spend a ton of money, so that helps some. It's also nice to see what some of the dresses look like on and in person than what I may have seen online. What a difference!

I was mainly looking for lace, but did opt to try on some satin ones as well. The satin ones weren't horrible, but boy were they heavy. There was one that wasn't so much, but I just feel like I would be carry around that extra weight all day/night and want to be free to move.

I ended up really liking a couple, although a few others could have been added to that list as well. It was my first time, so I was open to a lot - as long as it was in the style that I was looking for. The two that were written down each had their own pros and cons.

#1 - The Good: just enough lace, a great v-neck neckline, fit loose but was still form fitting, and very lightweight. The Bad: low back, so not sure what I would do with a bra, and the slip underneath sits weird in the chest area (but could have just been the size too).

#2 - The Good: fits AWESOME (fits my body perfectly), has a nice corest that would hold up to anything, just enough lace, not much for alterations, and not heavy at all. The Bad: strapless and isn't able to get straps.

Both are the same price, or relatively close. They are also both a tish above the maximum price range, but the first one is on a 25% off sale too... so that is a bonus. I have another appointment tomorrow with a small boutique in town, and plan to call 3 more places for next week before another appointment in St. Paul next weekend. They all have about the same designers, but it'll be nice to see what is all out there to make a decision.

In other news... our venue for the reception gets booked on Monday!!

Some progress!

We have a meeting with one of the venues today, mainly to get more details about the information we got and to ask any questions we may have. We are aiming for an October wedding, and this place had some more dates available compared to other places... and is a little cheaper for what they offer. Besides the normal rental fee and food and beverage minimum, the included offerings aren't horrible and the only thing we'd need to pay extra for (besides late night snacks, a keg and some punch) is having some audio/visual for a slide show.

Some places didn't include the cutting cake service, or included that in an a la carte option for a couple hundred bucks. Seriously?! Other places offered a lot of additional decorations, but really... I just want something simple so whatever is included in the wedding package is fine by me (mirroed tiles and some glass cylinders and floating candles).

So, I am crossing my fingers that the date we want (or I want... and both moms would like to see a Fall wedding) is still available and we can put a deposit down and make the date official. Big step! Next up will be figuring out what we want to do for a ceremony (if we are not able to rent a smaller room at the reception venue), and then work on the music and a photographer.

I have also scheduled a couple appointments to try on dresses in town here, and then another place in St. Paul next weekend. That place is supposed to have a lot options, so I am hoping I can find something I like and is still affordable. Yes, I want a nice dress but it doesn't need to be super expensive. Hopefully trying on dresses will be just like 'Say Yes to the Dress'!

I am happy that things are starting to roll, especially since this wedding is a little less than 7 months away. I have had plenty of friends do it in less time, and their wedding festivities were great. Once the main things get booked (reception, decision on ceremony, music and photo)... the rest will be easier.

Venue Selections - such a choice.

I requested a bunch of information (pricing, availability) from various venues in town to have our reception. We agreed that having it at a hotel would be best, that way people staying at the hotel can stay there instead of driving. Yes, it would be their choice to drive - but, this is what we want. So far, after combing through every detail and comparing every detail... not one of them stands out as a front runner. It's weird. I know that we only have 3-4 places in town, and most give you a lot of options for food, decorations, and additional inclusions... it's almost like you need to preference what is more important to pay for over another, and hope the place you pick in the end is giving you the bang for all the bucks.

Pick #1 - It's had receptions forever, and I have been to many, as well as other non-wedding events. I'm sometimes impressed with the food, and other times not. The good thing, is that if you don't want to pay for the single shot mixed drink inside the Hall, you can always go to the Bar located within the hotel and get the same drink (more alcohol) for the same price. Will some people do that? Maybe. The place is also outdated compared to some others, so that's another thing. However, the list of inclusions is awesome and gets my vote for that. You can also have the ceremony, for a fee. What doesn't get my vote? The choices for plated dinners, which is the most expensive. Their buffet options are better, but again, more expensive. Oh, and there is plenty-o-parking.

Pick #2 - I've also attended many weddings and other functions at this place. It's nice, it's roomy and has plenty of parking. At first, reading through the information.. this places wasn't bad. The prices were right fr the food, and were the least expensive. The inclusions were alright, and would do for what we would need. Unfortunately it would be another $1K to have the ceremony there, so that was a bummer. BUT, even with estimating costs and gusts, including the ceremony (and audio/visual) is still cheaper. Funny, how that goes.

Pick #3 - This is my top pick. I have loved every wedding reception I've been to at this place, and have loved every other function I've gone too as well. The food never disappoints and its’ newer, so it looks nice. The main downfall is parking – the lot is small. The pricing is comparable on all aspects, but doesn’t include a ton of stuff like Pick #1. They do have a separate package that you can get for $1K, which includes some stuff that’s needed… or do a la carte for those items if you don’t need/want them all. A ceremony is also possible, and for a decent price. Plus, buying that package allows you to take $1K off the F&B minimum. So, it’s something to think about.

Pick #4 – A very new hotel. So new, that it’s not even completed yet! My dad told me about this place, so I called the General Manager up and had a lovely 10 minute conversation with him. The only information he had was the pricing, which wasn’t horrible. It stinks because until the food pricing comes out; I can’t really include it in my venue choices. Plus, I’ve never been there, and although the 3D images that he supplied looked great, you just don’t know. He offered a tour sometime this month, so we’ll see.  If the price is right, it could definitely be a contender.

Decisions, decisions.! I’m on the right path though, and hope to get a venue narrowed down within the next few weeks… and crossing my fingers that whatever day we decide will be THE day, the place will still have an opening.

Ah, I'm getting married!

When I started this blog, it was kind of a rambling of random stuff - recipes, venting sessions, some life events, and just whatever was on my mind. I always thought that when I'd get engaged, I could turn it into a blog of what was going on with everything involved in planning - so that it could all be documented in some way. And... now I can!

Blair proposed on Saturday,  February 15, 2014. It was over at his sisters place and his 2 nephews were involved - which I knew they would be in some way, shape or form. I started a Wedding Website and included this information about the proposal:

After an already fun-filled day of going to the Kiwanis’s pancake feed and wandering around Costco with my parents for a bit, we headed over to the Keller’s (Blair’s sister Alison and brother-in-law Travis) house around 3:15 or so. We were asked to come over earlier than everyone else who was coming over so that we could get a start on the pizza order, which was our supper before we headed to the Fargo Force hockey game for our annual party there. When we got there, I thought it was weird that the place was really quiet, as usually the kids come and greet us at the top of the stairs… but I guess that wasn’t so unusual. Travis greeted us and said that the boys were in their room while they were getting ready and would be out in a few minutes.

All of the sudden, Owen and Dylan come out dressed to the nines in super adorable suit and tie outfits, and Owen was carrying a gift bag. Blair ushered them over to the living room and had Owen give me the bag, saying that the boys had a present for me. I was told to open the bag, and once I was able to sort through all of the tissue paper, I found the silver box at the bottom.  At this point, Blair was down on one knee, holding the boys on each side of him. I looked at him, and he told me to open it.  I proceeded to open the box and saw the beautiful ring. He told me to put it on and asked, “So what do you say?” I then asked him, “Well, what are you asking me?” “Will you marry me?” I responded with a, “Of course, yes I will!” Then I got hugs from the boys and kissed my fiancé!

We spent the rest of night at the hockey game and Gastropub with family and friends – which was a perfect ending to a perfect day!

I was very surprised, as we had gone and looked at rings a few weeks back... but didn't know when it would happen. Well, sooner than I imagined. Needless to say, I am excited and couldn't be happier.

Here's a pic of the newphews with us after it happened. They were adorable!

He's my lobster. :)