6 months and counting...

Gulp! Under the 6 month marker! Things I need to do over break:

-Hire a DJ [hopeless]
-Pick an officiant [hopeless]
-Pick a florist [in the works]
-Pick an invitation set [extra hopeless]
-Select a bridesmaid dress(es) [semi-hopeless]
-Acquire bridemaids gifts [done! :)]
-Finalize catering [almost done]
-Finalize guest list and send out save the dates to family [in the works]
-Try on my dress for fitting [in the works - Dec 27!]

Wondering when I will crack and hire a wedding planner... although I will admit my catering rep is really good for that. She is introducing me to her favorite florist, and considering I have no direction or idea about who is good in the area, that will be fine for me. Often times your vendors will recommend other vendors they have worked with in the past. Often times this is the best place to hear about good options! BUT always double check their suggestions on http://www.weddingwire.com/! This is a great site for reviews by real brides.

My dress is almost ready for fitting!

I just received notice that my veil has arrived in Atlanta and my dress will arrive in next week! For the past four months, it has been hand-crafted just for me; every segment has been hand-cut, pinned, and then stitched together exactly to my dimensions. I am so excited to try on my dress -- one that will actually fit without the need for giant clamps (all gowns in a store come in a "sample size," usually of 8 or 10. They will use clamps if the dress is too small or too big). Eek... I hope I still love it as much as I did over the summer, I always hear stories of people not liking their dress the second time around. I'm not too worried about it, though. Hopefully it won't need many more alterations, because the price for that can ADD UP!

Wedding Hairstyles

Because both my ceremony and reception are outdoors in the June heat (albeit in the evening), I am considering a primarily up updo. Here are a few of my current favorites! Also, notice the drop pearls (see previous post) with Nicole Kidman's updo!

Wedding Jewelry!

Today I bought my wedding jewelry! Because I had decided I didn't want a necklace, I went looking for dangling earrings instead.

Each earring has small diamond chips on two 14K white gold swirls with a 7 mm japanese saltwater pearl on the end. They are exactly what I was looking for -- girlie and sweet but noticeable. Because I will probably have my hair up and teased in the front with a few wisps down (I know every hairstylist will tell me having my hair down for an outdoor wedding in June will be a mistake), I wanted earrings that could stand out and complete my look!

Delta Zeta Parents Formal

Jon & I looking fancy!

Wedding Albums 101: Matted vs. Flush-mount

Wedding albums can come in all different shapes and sizes, with different types of cover material. The bigger the album, the higher the price. Likewise, you'll pay a premium for a leather-covered album. 

However, the inside is the most important! There are two distinct types of album layouts, matted and flush-mount. 

Matted

In a matted album, photographs are printed and hand-mounted to a matte (or border) on the page. The borders can be a variety of colors but are usually metallic gold, silver, pewter, copper, and sometimes black or white. Pictures can be in full or half panorama and are each their own separate picture. This is the more traditional type of album.

Flush-mount

With flush-mount, the entire photo-layouts are mounted to cardstock (so pictures are not printed individually). Photos can be overlayed, and many more can fit on a page. This opens up the opportunity for interesting designs and collages. The pictures stretch to the end of the "board" or page, and thus don't have any borders or edges. If you want to optimize the number of pictures in your album, this is your album!

What are Jon and I doing?

A hybrid! I prefer matted, because a lot of times I think the collages (that are the heart and soul of flush-mount) can get a little busy. I like simple elegance, and I want each picture to be distinct and noticeable. BUT, that being said -- flush-mount gives you the opportunity to mount a picture the whole length of two pages, which really makes it pop (they also make these seamless, so no dark crease in the middle cutting the picture in half -- see above). The center page of my album will be flush-mount; I want to have a huge panorama shot of the entire bridal/groom party with Jon and I. I think it will look gorgeous and really show off our colors and the essence of the day. I am still considering doing flush-mount pages at the front and back of the book -- but as for the rest of the flush-mount incorporation, I will be relying on advice from my photographer.

An example of a full 2-page spread in the center of the album.

I want this but a bridal party picture -- it would look stunning!

This is an example of a flush-mount page that I like. 

The ones I showed above are far too busy for me,

but this one was still done very cleanly (I guess I'm not into overlays).

Engagement photoshoot... finally!

After practically a year after he popped the question, Jon and I are FINALLY doing our engagement photos on Friday, October 22nd! They will be done in Northern Virginia and I think I have an idea where I want to have them done, but it is a secret for now! ;) BUT the timing should be perfect for the fall leaves!

Caroline & Jon Update: Rings and a Photographer

So last weekend Jon and I bought our wedding bands! Jon has always wanted a simple gold band, and because of my matchy-matchy nature, I went with the same. I am still trying to decide what to have written on the inside. Probably "Love forever - 6.18.2011" ... love forever is engraved on the inside of all the jewelry Jon has given me, so I think we'll continue the trend :) although I might decide to incorporate our initials (if there is room).

We have also chosen a photographer! I have been extremely picky throughout the photographer choosing process, in terms of skill, packages, and price. I am not going to say who I am using -- it's my standard not to give away the fine details of my own wedding :). That is a picture he has taken up top, though! These are the main things I was looking for in a package, and get with my photographer!

• Unlimited time on the wedding day
• Two photographers
• Engagement photoshoot included
• 60 image leather-bound album -- 60 is on the lower side, but it works out fine for me since I am doing a primarily matted album (my next post will be on album styles!)
• CDs with all the negatives (full files) a year after the marriage (pretty standard)
• Six 8 x 10s included

My photographer has great attention to detail, superb editing skills, and his photos have amazing clarity. Look out for my engagement pictures once the leaves get pretty!!! :) :) Any suggestions for cool places in the DC area are welcome!

Other pictures by my photographer:

Oatlands Wedding 9/18

So yesterday Jon and I both went to check out another Oatlands wedding. It was actually really helpful, the person had some of the same colors as us! There was a very youthful feeling to the wedding, but it was also very mod -- they had black bridesmaid dresses and pink bouquets, which is kind of the same trend I am doing for my wedding (pewter dresses with black tulle rose sash and different shades of pink bouquet). There really is something about the neutral bridesmaid dress + colorful flowers idea that I just LOVE... little injections of color are a great way to keep a wedding uber formal and classy. Check out the pictures... you'll see that I am posting more from the gardens -- there is a reflecting pool and boxwood alley that I didn't showcase last time. Enjoy!

Down near the aisle

DZ turtles represent

My fiance!

In the boxwood alley

We'll do a photo walk down here during the cocktail hour

Really pretty reflecting pool at the end of the alley,

the aisle is right on the other side of the tea house (white arch)!

Down in the Rose Garden

Walking to the cocktail hour from the reflecting pool

This bride opted for a couple tables in the cocktail area

for older guests... I like this idea

Tables to mingle around... but with a ribbon (I also like :)

The open bar!

This is where the escort cards were (not set up yet)

the moss acts as an anchor to prevent the cards from flying away!

The bride's colors were pink, green, gold, and black!

What a DZ - ish wedding :)

This bride alternated between tall and short centerpieces.

I am doing all short centerpieces, but the tall ones are pretty glamorous!

Loose flowers on the tables

Seriously... was this girl a DZ?

Love her flowers!

Mine will be light pink, fuschia/bright pink, and burgundy

It was a square tent (last wedding was rectangular)

with a dance floor, looong rectangular table, then lots of circle tables near the entrance.

The bar was in the bottom right corner, with a sitting area (a must!).

Beautiful view of Loudoun County, VA!!

Oatlands greenery... cute little pine cones!

On the way out :)

SNEAK PREVIEW!! Oatlands Wedding 9/4

SO one of the catering companies I am considering actually let me come on site to Oatlands before a wedding and see them setting up! Both the catering companies I am looking into also provide the ceremony chairs, reception chairs, glassware, tableware, linens, food, etc. so it it's a really easy way for me to organize that all into one point of contact.

Check out these awesome pics I got... they really give a feel for how my wedding will unfold!

Welcome to Oatlands!

Entrance

The Tent (Reception location)

Table setting

Sweetheart table in front of the dance floor

Yellow rose bouquet

Hydrangea tall vase display

King tables (long, rectangular) on either side of the dance floor

My *favorite* picture!

Limo dropping off guests near the ceremony area

(Oatlands is like the Lawn in that it slopes down at three or four different points)

Ceremony entrance

Guests arriving (while Oatlands was still open!)

water and lemonade stand before the ceremony

The aisle

Pomander Ball aisle decor (I'm doing this type also)

Garden Tea House (musicians play here; near top of aisle)

Walking from the ceremony to the cocktail hour

The rest of the way up to the cocktail hour

Signs directing the way

Garden decorations, cocktail hour in the background

Garden cocktail hour

Tables for the guests to mingle around

Restrooms

Entrance to the mansion and tent from the gardens


Escort card table and entrance to the tent

Side view of Oatlands