Posts from — July 2008

I’m not sure why you started reading wedding blogs, but I am pretty sure it started like this: “Holy Crap, I’m engaged!!!!!!!!!!! ………… Now what?” And then you turned to your faithful computer, and to the even more faithful google, and typed in “wedding”.  We all started in the same boat, and thanks to the girls over at Elizabeth Anne Designs, that boat just became a yacht with a full bar and shrimp cocktails. Here is a little tidbit from them about their new library:

“We are incredibly excited to announce our new project, The EAD Library.  After months of development and research, we are launching a new resource for brides tomorrow, Tuesday July 22nd.  The Library is filled with hundreds of useful links, from photographers to shops to stationers.  Our goal is a simple, comprehensive list of vendors.  The Library will help every bride, no matter her location, find the vendors and inspiration she needs for a beautiful event.”

This is a very, i repeat, very useful resource! The library is super extensive with lists upon lists of all kinds of vendors from photographers to calligraphers to bakers. Everything you need to plan your wedding! And on top of their new library, the EAD blog itself is full of inspiration. Go check it out!

lela rose is a semi new wedding dress designer and she has great stuff!  She uses the most beautiful fabrics! Here are some of my favorites: (Caution: these dresses are not for a budget bride, so don’t fall in love too quickly!)

She has a beautiful ready wear collection too!

She also designs for Payless, and because i can’t afford her clothes, I went out and bought myself these:

One year from today I will be a Mrs! woo hoo! Here is to a year full of stress-free ( ) planning and loving! Let the countdown begin!

So yesterday I was doing some reception-venue searching and came across the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. Great location, fun atmosphere, and they do parties! So I emailed the contact there asking her to send me information on renting their facility.

I get an email back asking when the party will be and how many guests…

Now, I do my best to hold off saying the words “wedding reception” for as long as possible because of my fear that the company will hear that and bump up prices.  I stuck with ‘cocktail party’ for this one. However, I had to give her the date… and most people don’t plan ‘cocktail parties’ a year out Oh, and we are planning a mid-day party, 1:00-3:00ish. So i get this back:

“We don’t do weddings until after 6pm”

? I deleted the email because I don’t want to be rude to her, but I almost wanted to write back and say “yes, but at what time do you hold EVENTS” because that is all this is, an event. We won’t be dancing, no sit down dinner, nothing that says ‘wedding’ except that I will be in a white dress. Ugh. And who knows, maybe they don’t do events after 6 either (although a lot of their pictures of events are nice and sunny… hmm…) But it just kind of irked me. 

One less place to set up an appointment i guess.

(Happy Friday!)

Some more mission garden images from Eric.

Below is a picture of where the original church in the mission was. It was destroyed by an earthquake but the very end of the church is still semi-intact. You can see the places on the wall where the sculptures of people were.

I’m so excited to be married in such a gorgeous place! Hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I did!

Here are some more gorgeous pictures from Eric Stoner. 

And my favorite:

A big thanks to Eric for all of the gorgeous photos!

Since Bryan is Catholic we will get married in the parish he is a member of. Luckily for us, he is a member of the San Juan Basilica Mission Parish. The church is very old, and is located right next door to the San Juan Capistrano Mission (you know, junipero serra…) So yeah, I am pretty stoked. Here are some images from a wedding that the very talented Eric Stoner sent me. Be sure to visit his site, he has a very photojournalistic approach to his wedding photos, which I love!

They recently re-did the flooring and all of the pews (lucky us!). 

And about a year or so ago they shipped the beautiful Retablo in from Spain. It is so gorgeous. They have a ‘no flower’ policy due to the new pews and such, and I really don’t mind. The church itself is so beautiful and ornate it really doesn’t need any decorating. Plus it saves a lot on flowers! 

Once married, you have access to the mission gardens for pictures!  I would highly recommend this church for people looking to get married in Southern California.  If you aren’t a member of the church there is a  much higher ceremony fee (I believe about $1,500) and I believe you can only get married at 10:00 AM on Saturdays in order to save the more ‘desirable’ times for members. (How great would a 10:00 wedding with a brunch afterwards be though?!) All in all, I am very excited about this. Now we just need a reception venue… Any recommendations for the Southern-Orange County area?

How adorable are these bunny cake toppers?! They would be perfect for a wedding outdoors in the woods or in a barn somewhere! 

Made by her. Found here.

And while we are talking cake toppers, you can’t not mention Ann Wood Handmade. I love the veil! 

Whenever I need a little inspiration, Martha always knows how to satisfy I love these programs. Both require a sewing machine (cough*mom*cough) but are super cute and Martha tells you exactly how to do it!

And these save-the-date ideas are awesome! The pencils are super cute! I think we are going to have pencils as one-half of our favors, a very useful favor if i do say so myself, along with their other half (to be decided later). And the mini calendars are great! Magnets are cool and all, but little calendars are fresh and so cute. I think we are going to mail postcards with little envelopes attached with a sticker inside for people to put on their calendars! I’ll keep you updated! Did anyone else do unique save-the-dates?!

(all images from martha)

Ok, so today is a new day, the migraine is (mostly) gone, and I am embracing the B word. It’s just a word. And if it wasn’t for the average american wedding costing $30,000 (!) the word wouldn’t exist. Even if I wasn’t planning a ‘budget’ wedding, I would be doing the same things I am now. Which include this:

Such a cute idea and so easy to make yourself. A stack of cheap (in price, not quality ) paper napkins, some ink and my handy gocco and I am all set! A nice little detail that won’t cost a lot of money. 

Photography by J. Cogliandro Photography, image found on style me pretty.