Category — e's vow renewal

I just signed and faxed out three big contracts and wanted to share with all of you!

• Floral: I am so pleased to have chosen Little Sparrow Floral.  Thanks to Our Labor of Love for their recommendation!  The moment that clinched it was when I told her I was looking for a specific shade of blush - not pink, not brown, and not cream, but a mixture.  And she brought me a Sahara rose in the absolute perfect shade.  At that point, I knew I was in love.  Anyone that understands color that well is going to be a friend during this process. 
• Catering: I cannot say enough about how professional and wonderful both caterers that were in the running are.  Dennis Dean has impeccable presentation and very reasonable pricing.  Bold American = simply amazing quality and a great attention to detail.  It truly was a tough decision but in the end we decided to go with Bold American.  They are affiliated with the Fifth Group Restaurants company, therefore making my next decision relatively easy….
• Brunch: South City Kitchen.  Love love love the space.  And it’s within easy walking distance of the hotels we will be booking and of my venue.  Plus, it works with the decor that I have planned. 

Atlanta vendors have all been amazing to work with.  Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I have the cream of the crop planners working with me in Eventologie.  Kim and Julie are fantastic.  I absolutely don’t know how I would plan a long-distance wedding without a planner.  Knowing the city and the vendors is priceless. 

I’m so excited to have chosen these vendors - the planning process is really coming together nicely.  Only a little over 10 months to go now!

The salon called today - my gown is in!  Yippee!  Sorry, no sharing until after the vow renewal, but I had to share my giddiness with all of you.  :)  I can’t wait to put it on again to see if it feels as amazing as it did the first time.

Also, I am *thisclose* to picking a florist and a caterer.  That leaves very few vendor decisions left - only decor and musicians, really.  Then the true fun begins - all the small stuff!  I already have so many posts stored up for after the event to share with you - I’ll give in-depth instructions for each and every DIY project, comprehensive vendor reviews, timelines, recommendations, and even the list of things I’d do differently (which hopefully is incredibly tiny, as I’m completely disregarding rule #8).

Yay for more checkmarks (or almost checkmarks)!

So, I have approximately 11 months before THE BIG DAY.  Some people might think that’s an eternity, but I think that is no time at all.  Especially since I have already been planning for 7 months.  Anyway, a big item on the to-do list is beauty.  So today, I trekked out in the *freezing* cold to the dentist. 

I have silver fillings on two of my bottom teeth from when I was a child and you can see them when I smile.  So my dentist had graciously agreed to replace them with tooth-colored fillings.  Now, I hate the dentist.  Really can’t stand it.  She’s nice and all, it isn’t her.  It’s just the act of the dentist.  But here I am, willingly in the chair waiting for the drill.  Only planning my vow renewal could make me this crazy. 

What sacrifices are you making in the name of beauty for your wedding?

My planner broached a very difficult question to me last weekend: who do I want to officiate the ceremony?  The answer: I have NO idea.

My husband and I are not religious people, so I do not want an officiant affiliated with any specific religion or church.  A justice of the peace seems so cold and impersonal.  And, even though it might *sound* fun, I really don’t want to ask one of our friends to do it.  I think someone with experience is best.  So, essentially, I like none of my options.  Can I actually have no officiant?

What do you think I should do?  Some things to note: 1) it does not have to be legal, as we are already married,  2) we will definitely be having all non-religious, non-classical music at our ceremony,  3) the ceremony will be very short and sweet, probably a couple of readings from friends, a “do you still, do you still”, and a yay it’s over.

Help!
E.

Wow, yesterday was crazy.  We started out at 10am and I didn’t get back to the hotel until almost 7:30pm.  We met with one decor company, a floral designer, tasted with two caterers, and saw South City Kitchen. 

I’m waiting on proposals from all of the vendors but…. we loved one of the caterers (not saying who yet), l-o-v-e-d the florist we met with (cannot wait to see their proposal, I think it’s going to be just perfect), and I got quite an education on pipe and drape.  Loved South City Kitchen, it’s perfect for my brunch the day after. 

That’s all for now, I’ll share more concrete details after my lovely planners receive proposals and we have made final decisions!

E.

I’m starting to think about my complete wedding look, including accessories and hair!  If I could trade my hair (which actually tends to cooperate relatively well, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain) for anyone’s, it would be Jessica Alba’s.

Images via Miss Alba, In Style, Unknown Source, Virgin Media

Down or up, it always looks fantastic.  And *so* perfect for bridal ‘dos!  I’m hoping my hair will love me enough just for one day to let me copy the style on the far right.

Some big checkmarks are about to come down the pipe.  This weekend I head to Atlanta for meetings with my event planner.  We are heading to prospective caterers, decor houses, and day after brunch spots. 

I’m very excited to see the South City Kitchen in Midtown.  The best thing?  It’s within walking distance of my venue.  The brunch menu looks amazing! 

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Oh I am SO in love with my photographer.  I knew Jessica would be amazing from her blog, so it was no real surprise when the first few pictures she posted of our getting to know you session turned out to be absolutely gorgeous!

I’ll treat to you the whole set from her blog!

I love how natural this pic is (especially the coffee, my husband is addicted to coffee):

This one just may be my favorite - the light is perfect and I actually look skinny!

I am IN LOVE with this picture - it’s absolutely the kind of pic I was looking for and it really showcases how Jessica sees potential in things so many people wouldn’t:

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Hi all - I have SUCH exciting news to share!  I have signed the contract for my photographer and the choice is…….

Jessica Claire!

You might be a bit confused, as I live in Chicago and the event is in Atlanta.  Yes, the wonderful planner and I searched high and low in Atlanta for photographers.  I’m not ashamed to admit that, at first, I had *absolutely* no idea what I wanted, although I knew that photography was perhaps the most important element of the event to me.  We started searching 20 months before the event, in the hopes that no one I fell in love with would be booked.

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Very excited today to announce that I have booked the venue for my Welcome Party — the 755 Club in Turner Field! 

Images courtesy of the 755 Club

We are doing a welcome party rather than a traditional rehearsal dinner due to the small size of my event and the fact that we have no local guests.  And we are both Atlanta Braves fans from birth so it was only natural that we have a part of the vow renewal incorporating one of our favorite things. 

I am so happy (and glad to have another thing off of my to-do list) and I have SO many ideas brewing already!  Any good baseball decor inspiration for me?

E.

PS - I’m also very close to choosing a photographer… but I’m not spilling who yet!  It’s a surprise.