A little about myself to start. I was born and raised in the Dallas/Ft. Worth ...]]> Well hello! My name is Sallie and I have a thing for blogs. When I read the EAD needed some brides to blog about their upcoming weddings, I was all over that. I am thrilled/excited/slightly intimated but what the heck, this is going to be fun!

A little about myself to start. I was born and raised in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area.  Texas is home and unless Blue Bell moves North, I will be here for a very long time.  Things I am passionate about include running, delicious food, sonic happy hour, reusable water bottles, my family, my fiancée and my faith.  I am currently a senior at the University of North Texas studying Kinesiology and Developmental Family studies.  Weird mix but great classes and I am so excited to eventually teach and be a track and field coach.

My fiancé and I met a couple years ago when he asked me on a date and I said yes only to call him back the next day to say, “Sorry, I can’t go on the date, I have a boyfriend. I forgot.” Whoops!  Awkward laugh! We became great friends over the next couple summers as we worked church youth camps together.  When I became available again, he quickly asked me out knowing I would say yes and sure enough I did. We started officially dating in January, got engaged in May and are now planning a wedding in December. Why wait when you know it’s right?

A little about him, well, he is awesome. Artsy fartsy and proud of it. He is studying Architecture at Texas Tech University in Lubbock where we will reside after we are married. He appreciates good food, a great game, fun people and me of course!

Now, on to the wedding planning!

I’m a list person. I almost always have a list (usually unfinished) with me at all times. List for the day, the week, the month, etc… So of course I needed a very long list for the wedding.  Once the M word was mentioned (which was well before we got engaged) I became making small lists for the wedding. When that homemade list became too long and unorganized, I decided to find a more intelligent, organized list. This one was best for the kind of wedding I would be planning, but there are plenty of them online if you just google Wedding Checklist.

So I began checking things off the checklist.

First thing on the list: Pick a Date…check. December 28th.

Next on the list: Save the Dates…check. Because our engagement and wedding is only 7 months apart, I chose to forgo mailing Save the Dates. I found this adorable free download from The Wedding Chicks, customized it with my wedding details and posted it to my personal blog. I also sent it via email for all those non bloggers out there (gasp!).

One giant item on the list: Picking a Venue. This was simple. We will be having a private religious ceremony in the Dallas, Texas Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Because we consider the Temple to be a sacred place, no decorations or even photography will be allowed at our actual wedding ceremony so the majority of my planning will be focused around the wedding events and reception outside the temple wedding. More details to come later…

And the last detail I will talk about today: Picking a Photographer. The number one thing everyone tells me not to skimp on is photography. Get a good one because they either a. hate their pictures and regret not getting a good photographer or b. love their pictures and don’t regret spending the moolah on that. So, I did a lot of research. Here are a few of my favorite DFW Photographers:

Hansel Dobbs Photography here. Shelly Townsend Photography here. Ambyr Porter Photography here.

For me, price, location and style were all factors in who I chose. In the end, I went with Suzanna Dodson. She loves what she does, she is located near my reception site and she just so happens to be an old family friend. When I approached her about shooting my wedding, she was giddy with excitement and full of fresh, fun ideas. Most importantly, I feel great about my decision!

Anyway, that’s enough about my wedding for now. More details (and things to check off the list) coming soon!

Loves!

{Sallie}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2010 · Permalink · 7 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: customs and traditions, photography

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With my obsessive love of cake and the fact that we were a 10 hour drive from Boston we decided that we weren’t going to wait to eat the top layer of our cake.  I figured that we could always order a ...]]> Yes, we ate the top of our wedding cake one year too early but that’s just how we roll.

With my obsessive love of cake and the fact that we were a 10 hour drive from Boston we decided that we weren’t going to wait to eat the top layer of our cake.  I figured that we could always order a fresh cake next year and call it a day!

To really set the mood, we put our little topper back on the cake and did a little decorating for the photo session.  Nothing like an oversized cake topper for a tiny cake.

When we cut into the cake this time, it was a lot less stressful and definitely more fun.  I’m glad we had practiced only a few hours earlier!

This was my chance to “payback” Ger for smashing cake in my face.  It got a little brutal and cake was everywhere but we really had a lot of fun.

We let everyone enjoy some wedding day/anniversary cake!

*images via personal collection

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2010 · Permalink · 2 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: customs and traditions

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Me: Hey, do you want to do a first look? Him: Um…I do not know what that is, therefore, probably not. Me: Ok. {tapping of fingers on table} Him: Aren’t you going to tell me what it is? Me: Well you don’t want to do it. Him: {look of annoyance} Ok, what is it? Me: It’s when the couple meets ...]]> …one late night while (not) studying over boba…

Me: Hey, do you want to do a first look?
Him: Um…I do not know what that is, therefore, probably not.
Me: Ok.
{tapping of fingers on table}
Him: Aren’t you going to tell me what it is?
Me: Well you don’t want to do it.
Him: {look of annoyance} Ok, what is it?
Me: It’s when the couple meets before the ceremony. Often times, one of them taps the other on the back or something similar, and then the other person turns around, and then the photographer is supposed to take pictures as you ooo and ahh at one another. It’s like a “ta-dah! Look at how lucky you are to be marrying this gorgeous person!” before the ceremony.
Him: Oh. So, this is something that doesn’t cost money?
Me: Correct.
Him: And it sounds like I don’t have to do anything except be there, which I already will be doing.
Me: Yup.
Him: Yeah I don’t care. As long as it doesn’t take effort or cost money, we can do it if you want.

Leave it to the boy to make any decision based on cost, effort, and whether or not there will be free food.

We’ll be seeing each other before the ceremony because we are walking down the aisle together. But a first look is still up for debate, I can’t decide if it would make me feel totally uncomfortable or just plain happy.

How do you feel about the “first look”?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2010 · Permalink · 15 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: customs and traditions

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Lately I have been harping on how complicated our wedding(s) is(are) getting. To quickly recap, we have two events: a ceremony and reception in San Diego, and a big fat Chinese banquet in Sacramento. ...]]>
This is the double happiness symbol I have been working with for our Chinese invitations. I purchased it on iStock. Invites to be revealed at a later date!

Lately I have been harping on how complicated our wedding(s) is(are) getting. To quickly recap, we have two events: a ceremony and reception in San Diego, and a big fat Chinese banquet in Sacramento. Guest count is constantly rising, with the number for the banquet running over 300 guests. And 300 is the minimum, not an overestimate. 

My head spun even more when I was trying to figure out what to do about invitations, and was the point in which I realized just how complicated “getting married” can be. I can do some graphic design, and I was planning to make my invitations with my gocco. After realizing that we would need two sets of invitations for our two events, one of them being translated into Chinese, and some people receiving both invites, my head almost popped off. I made the decision to forgo gocco, and just design both invites in InDesign and have them digitally printed. Just typing that out sounds easy enough, but the Chinese translation, getting the right double happiness symbol for the banquet invitation, and then making the invite for the San Diego event to match our save the date and website…enough to make this girl’s brain shut down, only to wake up saying “wedding? I’m sorry, what wedding?”

When I stop and think about this complicated array of festivities and celebration, I realize that it’s actually very special. The boy and I are bicultural as Asian Americans, both the children of immigrants, thus the amalgamation of a tea ceremony with Sprinkles cupcakes, a roasted pig with pasta salad, multiple dress changes, and a wedding playlist with mostly American music (and some Canadians…*wink*.) I like how we are incorporating so many aspects from both cultures, even if it means ramming my head into my scanner and yelling at my computer.

I know I’m not the only one since our readership is probably a cornucopia of different cultures, heritage, and traditions. What traditions/customs are you and your partner incorporating into your wedding?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2010 · Permalink · 4 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: customs and traditions, the planning process

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Since August, my husband left a good job in northern New Jersey and accepted an even better job in central ...]]> Where has the time gone? It’s been nearly five months since we said “I do” and one month since my last post. (Unfortunately, I didn’t meet my goal of finishing our wedding recaps before the calendar turned to 2010. I apologize!)

Since August, my husband left a good job in northern New Jersey and accepted an even better job in central Pennsylvania. We combined our kitchen gadgets, hardcover books, and camping equipment into a one bedroom apartment with no storage space. And we started the search for a more permanent — and larger — place to live.

But let’s move on. You came to hear about the wedding, right?

Last time we talked, I told you about our playlists and our dance moves. We chose traditional songs for our parental dances and threw in a few party favorites (YMCA, Twist and Shout, You Shook Me All Night Long).

About an hour into the dance party, Nick and I took center stage to thank our families and friends for traveling from California, Utah, Michigan, North Carolina, and Germany to share the day with us. If you’re comfortable with a microphone, I highly recommend doing this. Our guests really appreciated the acknowledgment. (And Nick made me laugh, as usual.)

We also gave a special shout out to our parents for setting wonderful examples for us to follow – in life, love, and marriage. We then asked them to join us on the dance floor to celebrate 30 years of marriage (my parents) and 36 years of marriage (his parents).

Yes, it was time for the Anniversary Dance. Rather than tossing the obligatory bouquet to a lucky — and likely embarrassed — single lady, we chose to honor the couple with the longest marriage. My grandparents, who have been married for 57 years (!!!), joyfully received the bouquet.

And in lieu of the garter toss, DJ Wild Bill suggested the groom and groomsmen perform a special dance. Honestly, none of them knew what to expect. Bill lined them up on the dance floor and led them through a series of moves, then asked them to “pay respect” to the bride and bridesmaids. The grand finale was unrehearsed, too. Nick strutted toward my chair, showed off his red socks, and planted a big kiss on my lips. It was one of my favorite moments of the night.

So we decided against the bouquet toss and the garter toss, but we insisted on the Dollar Dance. It was less about the money and more about spending a few minutes with individual guests. Our aunts and uncles and cousins especially enjoyed it. And to make it more classy, my mother ordered a monogrammed ivory satin bag to collect the dollar bills, proudly displayed by our maid of honor and best man.

What reception traditions are you choosing to keep and to change?

Next: The Sweets

{photos credit to Robert Winton}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2010 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: ceremony and reception, customs and traditions

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While we were waiting for our food to arrive, my soon-to-be father-in-law gave a touching toast. He even choked up a bit when he acknowledged that his “baby boy” was getting married.

He then turned it over to my soon-to-be mother-in-law, ...]]> I knew I would be giving gifts during our rehearsal dinner, but I did not I would be receiving gifts, too!

While we were waiting for our food to arrive, my soon-to-be father-in-law gave a touching toast. He even choked up a bit when he acknowledged that his “baby boy” was getting married.

He then turned it over to my soon-to-be mother-in-law, who surprised me with a sweet little speech. She explained that when she moved from the east coast to the west coast, Nick’s sister gave her a Tiffany’s heart necklace and said that they would always be close in heart. Mother-in-law later gifted the same heart necklace to her daughter and daughters-in-law. And now it was time to welcome a new woman into the family! I’m privileged to join a family with such strong and devoted women. And what a sweet tradition!

(Side note: When Nick was shopping for a necklace to give to me on our first Christmas together, his sister told him he was not allowed to get the heart necklace. You know what that means … she suspected we may end up together even way back then!)

Next it was our turn. Nick and I presented gifts to everyone playing a part in our big day.

I already told you about the ruby red earrings (I chose The Peach Tree) and the clutches I got for my girls. They loved both! I also slipped chapstick and tic-tacs into each clutch because I didn’t think they should be empty.

In addition to the awesome frames that Nick assembled for the guys, he also had mugs engraved with their initials. After the boys unwrapped them, we collected them back to bring to the reception the following night. Also, our dads got mugs that said “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the Groom” with the date. And we couldn’t leave the bride and groom without sweet drinking vessels. Ours said “Mr.” and “Mrs.,” of course.

The mothers got handkerchiefs. You know, in case they got a little teary eyed at the ceremony.

{from Holly Sew}

We also gave photobook “vouchers” to my parents and his parents. After we receive all of our professional photos, we’d like for them to choose their favorites, and we will design and print photobooks just for them. I’m actually really looking forward to trying out Blurb or Snapfish or Mpix. (Do you have a preference?)

Last, but not least, our Ring Bearer. And another brilliant idea from Nick! We had a baseball bat engraved with “Most Valuable Ring Bearer” and his name and our wedding date. During dinner, the little guy asked me whose  bat was sticking out of the shopping bag. He’s so observant! I told him it was a gift for Uncle Nick, and he had to keep it a secret. Boy was he surprised when we pulled it out of the bag and gave it to him!

Just as my almost husband and I were getting ready to part, he pulled me aside. He gave me a small box with a note on top. It said, “Since I don’t have much luck getting flowers to you, I wanted to deliver these in person.” (case in point) I was stumped! I tore into the box and found a bottle of Daisy, the sweetest fragrance from Marc Jacobs.

So be prepared, ladies — there could be a few surprises coming your way even before your wedding day! Do you have anything special planned for your groom, family, or friends?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2009 · Permalink · Comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: customs and traditions, rehearsal dinner

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Birdseed, flower petals, confetti to send off from the church. Got it.

{ image from Seasons of Life }

But what about the getaway from the reception? Sparklers, bubbles, etc…

{ image from Seasons of Life }

Are you supposed to do two send-offs?

I like the idea of doing a ribbon wand send off from the church, but I also like ...]]> Really though, what’s the story?

Birdseed, flower petals, confetti to send off from the church. Got it.

{ image from Seasons of Life }

But what about the getaway from the reception? Sparklers, bubbles, etc…

{ image from Seasons of Life }

Are you supposed to do two send-offs?

I like the idea of doing a ribbon wand send off from the church, but I also like the idea of a sparkler send-off from the reception.

{ photo by Birdsong Photography via polka dot bride }

Is it normal to do two send-offs? What’s the deal? I feel like making people line up and cheer for us more than once would be a lot…

What did you/are you going to do?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog, 2009 · Permalink · 9 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: ceremony and reception, customs and traditions

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