October Fest
Happy Autumn!
Posts
Brad and Sara’s Wedding
October 3, 2009
Another rainy, rainy, rainy wedding day. Brad and Sara’s wedding was simple and pretty, nicely done, nothing fussy or fancy… except her dress. Her dress was gorgeous and glamorous – it was slightly fitted, white, sparkly, very flowy; she looked beautiful. The Pastor was late to the wedding rehearsal but also to the actual ceremony; needless to say no one was very thrilled. There were probably a little over a hundred guests, small and intimate. The flowers were all fake and done very simply. She and her bridesmaids also made all the flowers, a growing trend as people start to cut budgets. The colors were orange, ivory and red. The 2 flower girls did a great job (after what was looking like a problem in the making); they dropped leaves from their little baskets and looked very sweet. Brad and Sara were going to have a pumpkin seed send-off, but due to the rain, we nixed that idea. So, even with the torrential rain, it was a beautiful wedding and I had a lot of fun helping with.
Steve and Michelle’s Wedding
September 26, 2009
I am helping out now with weddings at my church (ie: wedding coordinator), so I got to be a part of Steve and Michelle’s wedding. It was a rainy day in Grand Rapids, seems a lot like deja vu (to my own but also to a lot of other weddings I have planned), although rain on your wedding day is good luck. Anyway, it was lovely wedding ceremony, the flowers were pretty and simple: pots of mums at the front of the sanctuary and hand-made bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres (the girls made them). The ceremony was very personal, with both a Pastor (he just retired from Thornapple) and a Priest (from Notre Dame where the groom attended). After the ceremony, in the community room (the old sanctuary), there were appetizers and drinks for guests while the bridal party and family took pictures. Everything went wonderful and I wish Steve and Michelle the best!
Long Over Due
This summer has been hectic and busy for me and thus, my event planning has been pushed to the side. I have been living in 3 different cities (Grand Rapids, Denver, and Edmonton) and because of my constantly changing zip code, I took the summer off from planning. However, my head has been swarming with new and fun ideas like crazy and I am excited to be back home in Grand Rapids, even if it’s just for a month (yes, more moving around for me). In this next month, October, I have 4 weddings I am helping out with, which I am looking forward to! If you are wondering why all the moving, my better half is currently living in Alberta, Canada, and I am trying to visit him as much as possible. However, I will be back in December, and I plan on throwing some pretty awesome holiday parties. So, until then…
Tips: Websites and ordering online
Ordering things online for a wedding can be inexpensive and a great way to buy wedding and party supplies. You can search for the best deals, looks for creative ways to do things, and save hundreds of dollars.
However, it can also be daunting and a little risky if you don’t know what you are doing, and then there is always the risk that you might not be happy with what you ordered.
Tips:
1. Always know the website. Do your research on the company.
2. Ask your friends what websites they have used and were happy with.
3. Call the company if there is a phone number on the website and speak with someone.
4. Know their return policy and shipping rates – sometimes shipping can be expensive!
5. Ask if they can send you a free sample (cloth, invite, napkin, etc) so you can see and feel it.
5. If you have never used Ebay, this is probably not the best time to start learning how to use it.
6. Ask your local vendors if they have any experience/knowledge of any good websites.
Some of my favorite Websites:
1. Ebay: If you know what you are doing, you can find awesome deals on things from shoes and rings to candles and decorations and even vintage dresses!
2. Oriental Trading Co: This has a little bit of everything and things you didn’t even know were out there. It’s a lot of fun to look through!
3. Discount Mugs: Everything from vases, candle holders, wine glasses… the list goes on!
4. Formal Invitations: They offer more than just formal invitations. You can search by style, color, type, price, season… You can DIY or have them custom print and assemble the invites. The samples aren’t free, but are only around $1.
5. Jcrew: They offer some fun and flirty styles that are not the typical Davids Bridal and are priced around $300 (up to $3,000).