Step One: Make him do it.
Just kidding, but more power to you if he agrees! DIY invites are great, they're reasonably priced and they come in a wide variety. While you may be patting yourself on your back for saving a few hundred bucks, and you totally should be because come on that's awesome, don't celebrate too long. The reason they're so cheap is because the labor of printing, assembling and tying 100 tiny bows is not included. which brings me to...
Step Two: Have a small army of assemblers.
It took me, Mike, his mom and my mom a week straight of doing nothing but printing, assembling, stuffing, un-stuffing, re-stuffing, printing address labels, sticking on said labels, sticking stamps and shipping. The more people you have the faster it (should) go.
Step Three: People don't read the fine print so have backups.
Case in point, when we printed out the response cards we put on them "please initial by your food choice". So far, we've had two cards out of thirty come back with initials and some didn't even come back with names... It helped that we put a number on the back of the card and recorded it on a guest list incase they didn't write their name on the response card. Props to Mike's mom for that idea!
Step Four: Once you have an invite put together, take it to a post office.
This one's an oldy but a goody. Our invites weren't that heavy, but they had a bow on them. When we took them to the post office we found out that because of said bow, our invite couldn't be "machine processed" which meant we got to pay for the 64 cent stamps. You never now what weird rule there might be so check before you put stamps on!!
Step Five: If you're invite doesn't have an inner envelope try to find one (even if it looks like poo).
You may think it's kind of wasteful or stupid to have two envelopes, but they will help keep you sane when you get a few returned invites that aren't beaten to death. We searched five different stores to find some but no dice. We decided to send them without a second envelope and when a few got returned to us they were war torn. Some had survived with only a few bruises but some came back with the ends totally torn and that's with them being "not machine processed".
Step Six: Invest in some good tequila.
Because by the end of this you're going to need it ;)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Pillow Talk: DIY Ring Bearer Pillow
If there's one thing I hate more in this world than my sewing machine it's being board. And last night as Mike had left for Vegas and all of my friends were subsequently out of town, I had two options. One; watch a marathon of Desperate Housewives, or two; do anything else. After I finished downing a few slices of pizza and 2 buck chuck (which is no longer 2 bucks), I decided to do both. Because hey, everyone loves to watch a little crazy now and then.
So I decided to take out the 'ol sewing machine I had hidden away in the back of the closet and make myself a ring bearer pillow for my wedding. After two minuets I remembered why it was hidden. It's the devil's sewing machine. So instead of continuing to curse at an intimate object, I decided to sew the stupid thing by hand. It was relatively easy, so I decided to share my lazy-girls version of how to make a ring bearer pillow.
First I laid out my fabric and cut it to an inch bigger than the size I wanted the final project to be. It was was two layers, so I had to sew that together first (gag).
So I decided to take out the 'ol sewing machine I had hidden away in the back of the closet and make myself a ring bearer pillow for my wedding. After two minuets I remembered why it was hidden. It's the devil's sewing machine. So instead of continuing to curse at an intimate object, I decided to sew the stupid thing by hand. It was relatively easy, so I decided to share my lazy-girls version of how to make a ring bearer pillow.
First I laid out my fabric and cut it to an inch bigger than the size I wanted the final project to be. It was was two layers, so I had to sew that together first (gag).
Then I traced around that handy dandy square thing so the pillow wouldn't come out looking like an Ugly Doll and pinned the sides with safety pins.
Once the layers were sewn together and looked like this I placed them together, the pretty sides facing each other and stitched 3/4 of the pillow together. Leaving room to stuff the stupid thing.
That's how much I left open. At this point I frantically called my grandma, who actually does know how to sew, and asked her how to sew this part together without it looking like a stitch job from a back ally doctor.
I forgot to take a picture of the post stuffing/stitching but this is generally what it looked like.
Then I went two work on the flower. Because I wanted a flower. If you don't want a flower on yours don't do this step. So, I cut out a bunch of "petal shapes" and lined them up and sewed a straight line across the bottom. Once I was done, I kind of scrunched them all together by pulling on the end of the stitch where the needle was.
After that I sewed the two ends of the flower together and BAM flower. However the inside sucked so I decided to make a button with fake pearls from an old necklace.
Old necklace+ round piece of paper+ glue gun+ burnt fingers= Button (yay). Seriously though, use some freaking oven mitts. Hot glue hurts.
Then I stitched the flower to the pillow, glued the button with some ribbon to the flower (which I later cut off because it was ugly) and WAH-BAM ring bearer pillow.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Furry Werepig
I frequently find myself saying "Oh we've gotten all the big stuff out of the way, now we just have the little stuff to figure out." Of course what I really mean is, "All we have to do now is the all encompassing, time consuming, and wallet draining menial tasks that will eventually make us feel like we've taken on two other jobs and simultaneously downed some meth." Smile*
Just kidding... Sort of. Planing a wedding can be a "itch-bay". See, that's pig latin or something for...well you get it. Especially when you have say, a job, or school, or a cat that has to be kept away from his food dish, otherwise he'll turn into a "ginormo-kitty". I call him the furry warepig. It's very time consuming.
Anyways, the point is, don't try to go it alone! Enlist the help of others! Friends, family, or if you're like me and have zero family within 400 miles, total strangers! Seriously, there're a lot of people looking for jobs around here and I am not folding 400 place settings by myself.
Just kidding... Sort of. Planing a wedding can be a "itch-bay". See, that's pig latin or something for...well you get it. Especially when you have say, a job, or school, or a cat that has to be kept away from his food dish, otherwise he'll turn into a "ginormo-kitty". I call him the furry warepig. It's very time consuming.
Anyways, the point is, don't try to go it alone! Enlist the help of others! Friends, family, or if you're like me and have zero family within 400 miles, total strangers! Seriously, there're a lot of people looking for jobs around here and I am not folding 400 place settings by myself.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Oscar The Grouch
If you think you like having things done yesterday, think again when it comes to planning your own wedding. When people say that planning a wedding is tantamount to taking on a second job, they're right! Except the little part of you get to do the paying instead of getting payed. If you do make that mistake, like I have time and time again, realize two things. One, and I'll put it nicely, you're going to make Oscar the Grouch look like a cuddly teddy bear. I don't care how much your fiancé says he likes Sesame Street, he won't be thrilled to be living with Oscar's crankier cousin. Two, whatever it is that your doing will look better, be less stressful, and actually turn out the way you want it to if you give yourself time to do it right. Is this always realistic? No. but if you can give yourself more time on something DO IT!
For example, this last week we decided to get all the venders booked and out of the way. Sounds great right, check things off the list and everything? That's what I thought, but after meeting with the florist, DJ, photographer, cake lady, church, and caterer/venue manager my brain was a crispy-fried-critter. And when your brain's a crispy-fried-critter that's when an inevitable catastrophe seems to arise. Like ours of "A priest can't actually marry anyone outside a church building." I'll give you three guesses where our wedding is taking place. And no, there are no oversized bells where we're getting married.
If my brain had not been in its delicious country fair state, I may have been able to handle it a little better. instead I turned into a something you might see on say, The Vampire Diaries. Except more angry, and waaay less sexy.
Point is, everyone has their limit as far as stress goes. So don't over do it just because you want to get everything out of the way.
For example, this last week we decided to get all the venders booked and out of the way. Sounds great right, check things off the list and everything? That's what I thought, but after meeting with the florist, DJ, photographer, cake lady, church, and caterer/venue manager my brain was a crispy-fried-critter. And when your brain's a crispy-fried-critter that's when an inevitable catastrophe seems to arise. Like ours of "A priest can't actually marry anyone outside a church building." I'll give you three guesses where our wedding is taking place. And no, there are no oversized bells where we're getting married.
If my brain had not been in its delicious country fair state, I may have been able to handle it a little better. instead I turned into a something you might see on say, The Vampire Diaries. Except more angry, and waaay less sexy.
Point is, everyone has their limit as far as stress goes. So don't over do it just because you want to get everything out of the way.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Reasons why couples think registries suck, and rock
After talking, ok bitching, to many grooms and brides to be who, like me, feel like they're the kid who has a room filled with legos, but keeps getting more every holiday, I discovered we pretty much all had the same complaints and loves about registries! So here they are, hot off the complain-o-press. Do you have any qualms or reason you love registries? Put them in the comments!
1. Sucks- Most couple's today don't need more stuff.
Registries are great for people who lived apart before jumping the broom. Today though, more and more people are getting married later in life, have already established careers, and are living together long before they get married. Long story short, they have everything they need. Maybe there are a few things they can replace, but for the most part they're good. And yes, there's always asking guests to donate to a charity, contribute to the honeymoon blah, blah, blah, but what many couple's really need is money, mullah, the green stuff. Which brings us to...
2. Sucks- You can't just ask for cash.
Yes, I am going to sound ungrateful, it's not what I'm going for, but here we go. Any who, I get why gifts at a wedding can be important. Cash can seem impersonal to some people, and it's nice for people to get you something tangible. But for most couples, young or old, cash is the only thing they could actually use more of. They'd like to have a "registry" towards a downpayment on a house, instead of new table linens, unless you're Will and Kate. Then I guess you could just use more weird hats.
3. Sucks- You're supposed to hit a "set amount" of gifts in different price ranges.
This one's all me. So, you don't literally have to hit set prices. There are no "registry price police" that will come get you if you don't have 20 items between $50.00 and $100.00. Personally though, I want to scream a little every time my registry says I need 60 more items in the $100-$200, 40 more things in the $200-$300 range, etc.
4. Sucks- It's not that simple to connect your registries if you have multiple ones.
Now there are sites that can conglomerate all your stuff together like GiftRegistry360 and such, but as one bride to be told me, there are almost always glitches. Either with stuff not showing up from one registry, or guests just not knowing how to use it, etc.
5. Sucks- The web registry was made by a chimp that's taken one web design class.
Now, I love chimps, I think most chimps could make far better websites then many web design majors I know. But the one that makes wedding registries should just go back to eating bananas and throwing poop around. Anyways, Macy's I'm talking to you. I just want to be able to organize my gifts myself so people aren't looking at my registry going "how the hell did a serving plate get thrown in with electronics..."
6. Sucks- There's no good tier system.
I touched on this yesterday, but this is something I keep hearing from brides. That there's no way to say "I want this, after this please!" Does this seem a little OCD and controlling? Yes. That's ok though. Nobody wants to register for a mixer and an attachment, then get the attachment because it's more affordable, but not receive the mixer. That was just one example, and the tier system certainly wouldn't be most to least expensive, just what you really do need to what you really want.
7. Rocks-You can replace all your broken, over-used, mis-matched stuff
Mike and I have been living together for about two years now and have a mix of two sets of college stuff, garage sale stuff, his great-grandmothers stuff, my moms stuff, his moms stuff, and some of our own stuff we bought. Luckily most of it's kitchen ware, but man will it be nice when we have our own stuff that matches!
8. Rocks- You can register for pretty much anything.
With todays technology, and the advent of mega-stores you can register for just about anything (except cash). For example, I know someone who registered for a full-on snow cone machine. I've heard of people registering for iPads, dogs, life-sized clown statues and the like. If you can dream it, and have the room for it, you can register for it.
9. Rocks- Registry rewards!!!
Macy's, this one I love you for. Some registries, like Macy's and I think William Sonoma(?) carry incentives with your registry. Like getting 10% cash back from a completed registry, or receiving mixing bowls or something when you've hit a certain price point for a brand.
10. Rocks-Helpfull staff
I don't always think this one rocks. But sometimes helpful sales clerk can save your bum when you're trying to figure out what silverware goes with what plate setting, or if you should double register for things etc.
1. Sucks- Most couple's today don't need more stuff.
Registries are great for people who lived apart before jumping the broom. Today though, more and more people are getting married later in life, have already established careers, and are living together long before they get married. Long story short, they have everything they need. Maybe there are a few things they can replace, but for the most part they're good. And yes, there's always asking guests to donate to a charity, contribute to the honeymoon blah, blah, blah, but what many couple's really need is money, mullah, the green stuff. Which brings us to...
2. Sucks- You can't just ask for cash.
Yes, I am going to sound ungrateful, it's not what I'm going for, but here we go. Any who, I get why gifts at a wedding can be important. Cash can seem impersonal to some people, and it's nice for people to get you something tangible. But for most couples, young or old, cash is the only thing they could actually use more of. They'd like to have a "registry" towards a downpayment on a house, instead of new table linens, unless you're Will and Kate. Then I guess you could just use more weird hats.
3. Sucks- You're supposed to hit a "set amount" of gifts in different price ranges.
This one's all me. So, you don't literally have to hit set prices. There are no "registry price police" that will come get you if you don't have 20 items between $50.00 and $100.00. Personally though, I want to scream a little every time my registry says I need 60 more items in the $100-$200, 40 more things in the $200-$300 range, etc.
4. Sucks- It's not that simple to connect your registries if you have multiple ones.
Now there are sites that can conglomerate all your stuff together like GiftRegistry360 and such, but as one bride to be told me, there are almost always glitches. Either with stuff not showing up from one registry, or guests just not knowing how to use it, etc.
5. Sucks- The web registry was made by a chimp that's taken one web design class.
Now, I love chimps, I think most chimps could make far better websites then many web design majors I know. But the one that makes wedding registries should just go back to eating bananas and throwing poop around. Anyways, Macy's I'm talking to you. I just want to be able to organize my gifts myself so people aren't looking at my registry going "how the hell did a serving plate get thrown in with electronics..."
6. Sucks- There's no good tier system.
I touched on this yesterday, but this is something I keep hearing from brides. That there's no way to say "I want this, after this please!" Does this seem a little OCD and controlling? Yes. That's ok though. Nobody wants to register for a mixer and an attachment, then get the attachment because it's more affordable, but not receive the mixer. That was just one example, and the tier system certainly wouldn't be most to least expensive, just what you really do need to what you really want.
7. Rocks-You can replace all your broken, over-used, mis-matched stuff
Mike and I have been living together for about two years now and have a mix of two sets of college stuff, garage sale stuff, his great-grandmothers stuff, my moms stuff, his moms stuff, and some of our own stuff we bought. Luckily most of it's kitchen ware, but man will it be nice when we have our own stuff that matches!
8. Rocks- You can register for pretty much anything.
With todays technology, and the advent of mega-stores you can register for just about anything (except cash). For example, I know someone who registered for a full-on snow cone machine. I've heard of people registering for iPads, dogs, life-sized clown statues and the like. If you can dream it, and have the room for it, you can register for it.
9. Rocks- Registry rewards!!!
Macy's, this one I love you for. Some registries, like Macy's and I think William Sonoma(?) carry incentives with your registry. Like getting 10% cash back from a completed registry, or receiving mixing bowls or something when you've hit a certain price point for a brand.
10. Rocks-Helpfull staff
I don't always think this one rocks. But sometimes helpful sales clerk can save your bum when you're trying to figure out what silverware goes with what plate setting, or if you should double register for things etc.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Fiestaware? No, really. Where is it?
After dropping, chipping, and flat-out breaking many of our plastic dinnerware pieces, I'm confident in saying that I was the reason the phrase "this is why we can't have nice things" came to be. So we've decided to opt-out of the whole "nice china" thing and instead go with dinnerware that will just last us a long time, and is somewhat cheaply replaceable...Plus the colors are so fun!
While the whole registering part went great, for me anyways, when I got online to view our registry I wanted to cry. Everything was so disorganized! I'm not sure how Macy's decided that the soup bowls belong at the bottom of the page, far-far away from all the rest of the dinnerware. Or that a serving plate belongs in a whole different section from the rest of the serving stuff, but wow do I think it's a mess. I think it'd be great if they just left the organization up to the couple! That and have some sort of tier system of "I would like this, then this" etc etc. Because no one wants a pasta attachment for a mixer, but no mixer to attach it to.
So Macy's if you're listening, which you totally are. not. Please, please, please make your registry system more user friendly!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Did I hear you were going to...
Ok, that's not possible and happens about every other minute when you're planning a wedding. My mom is still, somewhat jokingly, on me about having a summer wedding, which we had originally planned.
Apart from my mom's joking, I've seriously had people come to me complaining about the most random things. Things that I had no idea effected anyone but myself and Mike. Like what we put on our save the dates, or what color our wedding website is..
So how do you deal with -"I heard you're getting buttercream frosted cake. I just wanted to let you know that buttercream is gross and I will smoosh it on your face if you serve it to me..." and no, unfortunately that was not a real conversation, it's just would totally happen.
Do you submit to their demands of having twelve tier wedding cake? Get a bouncy house and clown to entertain their misbehaving kids?
I'd love to say NO! put down your foot in every instance, it's your wedding!! But that's not always the case. Sometimes people have actual good reasons for complaining or suggesting things...I think. Then there are people who keep suggesting you rent a camel to ride in on, and all you can say is "huh".
Anyways, I guess it comes down to being understood and being understanding at the same time. Can you bend a little on if kids are allowed at the rehearsal dinner? Maybe, if it doesn't really matter to you. But should you bend on something important that will effect price too much or ruin your experience? Nope.
Side note: Many people I know have much more wedding sense than I do, and I'm extremely thankful to have them around. Actually Mike is probably even more thankful to have people to organize my ideas..Otherwise we might be having a circus themed wedding, in Cancun, on a cruise liner...which would be SO COOL!!! Right??
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