And July Turns To August

Our wedding month has arrived! And, overall, I’m feeling cool, calm, and collected.

The last weekend in July was a whirlwind of wedding activities: hair and makeup trials, dress fitting, and meetings with our coordinator, our caterer, and our photographer.

I was definitely reminded why we hired professionals. Each vendor asked questions we hadn’t considered: Who will walk the mothers down the aisle? Who will take the centerpieces at the end of the night?

And offered useful tidbits of advice: Ask someone other than a groomsman to drive the golf cart. Ask a family member to be a liaison to the photographer. Use bottled beer for the cocktail hour and kegs for the reception.

And eased our minds: My hair and makeup will not be overdone. Our photographer will scout the site the day before the wedding. Our coordinator will decorate and display all of our DIY projects.

Whew! I’m glad such details and logistics are now in the hands of our vendors – our very competent vendors.

And now July turns to August. The first weekend of our wedding month will be spent crafting. We still have a lot of projects we’d like to do, but nothing is really essential. The show will go on with or without cocktail napkins and sparklers.

Here’s the list of possible projects (in no particular order):

  • Buy mason jars, candles, and ribbon
  • Make chalkboard signs for buffet display
  • Write welcome note for OOT bags
  • Personalize matchboxes and sparklers
  • Print escort cards and table numbers
  • Attach escort cards and baby photos to clothes line with clothespins
  • Make ceremony program fans
  • Make barn wood signs for “wedding,” “cocktails,” and, “party”
  • Make “Just Married” sign for carriage
  • Gocco cocktail napkins
  • Print labels for water bottles
  • Make favors (this is a BIG one that I’ll tell you all about later)

And here’s my very first inspiration board that incorporates some of these details:

rustic-red-and-brown-wedding-inspiration-board
{left to right, top to bottom: wedding sign via Homegrown Wedding; carriage via Martha Stewart Weddings; flowers from Chelsea Elizabeth Photography; boutonniere from The Knot; escort cards from unknown source; glass drink dispensers via For the Love of Brides; red pail from unknown source; invitation suite from author’s personal collection; sparklers via EAD}

How are you other August brides feeling? Did you get any surprise questions at your final meetings? Can you believe the big day is almost here?!