Wedding Fact Friday

I am posting this to spite Mr. GrapeJuice.

We are both Catholic, and we are planning to have a Catholic wedding.

However, I think it would be really beneficial {and efficient} to see each other before the ceremony. 

Of course, he does not agree. This is the one aspect where he wants to be traditional.

Does he care if I wear a veil? nope.

Does he want my dress to be white? yes, but he's come to terms with the fact that it's not.

So...why can't he give up on this notion as well?

He says that if I can prove a valid point then he'll seriously consider it.

Well, last night I showed him the fact below, and he said it wasn't credible because there was a "typo!"

{do you think a five paragraph essay would win him over?}

"The Groom Not Seeing The Bride Before The Wedding - (Superstition)

Many of our current wedding "customs" originate from century old superstitions that would avoid incurring bad luck. In ancient times, marriages were considered a business arrangement made between family members, rather than a celebration of love. Marriages cemented alliances between families and insured transfer of land and wealth between them.

Often the groom had not met or even seen his future wife before the ceremony. The bride was kept hidden to eliminate any disapproval of her from the groom. It was feared that once seeing her he may have refused to proceed with the ceremony. This of course would have bought bad luck, by putting the family's financial arrangements in jeopardy.

Today this custom has lost its relevance. Arranged marriages are not very common in our modern North American society nor will the Catholic Church condone a marriage between people who have never met. A Catholic wedding ceremony is a sacrament that couples administer to each other, so it must be a ceremony of mutual consent. Many couples are abandoning this custom of hiding from one another, choosing instead to have private time together for prayer and reflection before the ceremony. They then as a couple greet their guests upon their arrival."

source :: catholicbrides.com
photo :: chris + lynn photograhpy

p.s. if you notice the typo, please let me know because i don't see it!

Life in the Past Two Weeks - Pt. 1

A lot has happened since Mr. GrapeJuice and I moved into our new house. We're still unpacking, but we've definitely gotten used to living on our own. We've even lost some weight in the process! Mr. GrapeJuice says this is because of my cooking. Not that my cooking is bad! It's just that I make the right portions without a lot of leftovers. Mr. GrapeJuice and I are the type of people that will eat because the food is there in front of us. Being on our own has definitely helped us drop that little habit.

But...onto happier topics {not that food isn't a happy topic!}.

Like, photography!

Back at the very beginning of March, I won a free photo shoot through Framed by Fletcher.

We had scheduled a photo shoot for the middle of March but it POURED that whole day so we rescheduled.

Boy, am I glad we did!!

We got some super hot photos at dusk in Nashville!

Mr. GrapeJuice and I are seriously considering this couple for our big day!

I hope we can agree upon something soon.

FREE Photography

I am here to interrupt your regularly scheduled {and dreary, rainy} day to tell you about a great opportunity for Tennessee brides-to-be!

Would you like to win free wedding photography?

{I seriously hope your answer is yes!}

Well, then have I got a treat for you.

A few moments ago, I was contacted by Melissa of Melissa Hayes Photography.

She is a phenomenal documentary and lifestyle photographer located in Chicago, IL.

 Currently, she is hosting a contest for free wedding photography for one lucky Tennessee bride.

The rules are quite simple, and so is entering.

The RULES are...

~ Your wedding must be taking place in 2010.

~ You cannot have a photographer booked already.

{See? Simple!}

To ENTER...

Go to Twitter

Follow @melissahfoto

Then, post this message, "@melissahfoto Tennessee Bride To Be!"

{Even simpler!}

There's no catch, but the contest does end March 20th!

That's this Saturday.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! 

Wishful Wednesday

I wish...

I knew what to wear for out photography shoot on Sunday.

We are having our free photo shoot downtown around sunset.

I'm not sure what to wear though.

Any recommendations?

I'm trying desperately hard NOT to buy something new.

Please help.

p.s. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

p.p.s. This is my 200th post! [yay me!]

 
photos : anne ruthmann photography, squidoo, blogged down at the moment

Best Monday Ever

Yesterday was perhaps the best Monday I've had in a long time. :) Two wonderful things happened! Around 10 o'clock in the morning, I got an email from our realtor. The sellers accepted our offer! We will be closing on the house in April. I'm so excited. :D Below are some pictures of the inside of our house and the backyard.

The other fabulous thing that happened yesterday is that I won a contest. It wasn't just any contest either. I won a free photography shoot! Can anyone say engagement session?? Because, that sure was my first thought when I saw that I won.

The photographer is planning on hosting another contest of this nature. Definitely check them out - Framed by Fletcher!

For Your Dress

I don't know if you've seen this yet, but it's been saved in my favorites for quite some time now.
I think it is a really cute idea!!
Not only will it remind you of what you are becoming once you put the dress on, but it'll look AWESOME in pictures!
Imagine having your dress shot taken with it hanging off of such a precious piece.
{plus, the pricing is great}

.:Bridesmaids, Mothers, etc. - take note of this because it would be a great Bridal Shower gift too!:.

Found on Etsy.
Made by LilaFrances
Current Price: $15

My Sister's Wedding

On Friday, I put up some pictures of R and I at my sister's wedding, which you can see in the post below. Last night, while bored and sitting in my room, I went through my sister's engagement and wedding pictures. I picked the ones that I liked and made some wedding boards out of them to show you guys. They turned out really well...as did her wedding. If you didn't all ready know, she planned her wedding in three months and it looked great. She said she wouldn't change a single thing about it. (Wouldn't we all like to be in her shoes?) Again, all photo credit goes to Mitchel's Photography!

(If you want a more detailed look at the pictures, just click on 'em.)

My sisters wedding pictures were posted today.
Naturally, I found the ones of R and I to post...because I can't wait for our wedding!

Photos: Mitchel's Photography

The Budget Breakdown

A couple weeks ago, I posted a budget breakdown of what the average person in TN spends on a wedding. It was heartbreaking because I know I won't be able to afford something considered "average" for a wedding in TN. However, to make the most of my budget, I have spent the entire day so far trying to maximize my budget by applying different percentage strategies to my it. On the plus side, I am getting better at percentage math. Now I can successfully pass 6th grade! Yay me!

I do have a positive note to post along with this though, courtesy of Real Simple Weddings. They have an article about how to save money while planning your wedding. It happens to be very specific too, which is something we brides definitely need in our lives!!

1.The Timeline

• Shorten the wedding-planning timeline. Don’t wait a year to get married and it will be easier to simplify the wedding. “A recent trend I’ve seen is that couples are saving money by planning a more last-minute wedding, rather than the traditional 11-month runup,” says Alan Fields, coauthor of Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget. “The shorter time horizon will force you to streamline and keep you, by necessity, from getting sucked into the vortex of elaborate weddings.”
• Or give yourself even more time. That way, you can take advantage of seasonal sales. “For example, you may be able to stock up on silver decorations at 75 percent off before the Christmas holidays, or pick up your ring bearer or flower girl’s outfit on sale at Easter,” says Sharon Naylor, author of 1001Ways to Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding (McGraw Hill, $17, amazon.com)

2. The Date

• Schedule the wedding in off-peak times. When there’s less competition for dates, you can have more negotiating power. “You can shave 20 to 30 percent off the cost of a wedding by planning it for November, or January through March―except for Valentine’s Day,” says Fields.
• Choose any day other than Saturday. "That’s the most popular day to marry," says Anna Post, author of Do I Have to Wear White? Emily Post Answers America’s Top Wedding Questions (Collins, $15, amazon.com). Ask about rates for Friday- and Sunday-night weddings. They’re becoming more common, so you won’t have to deal with quite as many guest grumbles.

3. The Venue

• Consider choosing a nontraditional venue. “Where you have the wedding often drives the cost,” says Fields. Rather than a dedicated wedding reception hall or country club, check out less expensive facilities, from city-run spaces like zoos and civic gardens to restaurants or more offbeat locations that have some meaning for you, from a beach to your parents’ yard. One caveat: If the space is not equipped to cater a party, calculate extra costs for bringing in tables, toilets, or even a kitchen.

4. The Wedding Dress

• Shop designer or sample sales. Find out the dates of well-known annual sales at places like Filene’s, where you might snag a $2,000 dress for $249, or the sample sales at Vera Wang. “You can save up to 70 percent on gowns, headpieces, veils, and shoes at a sample sale,” says Naylor. “Look for the touring list on your favorite designers’ websites, or get on the mailing list at bridal gown salons.” You may even get to shop before anyone else and have first pick.
• Consider renting or borrowing a dress. “Or buy one secondhand,” Post says. Chances are, it’s only been worn once! Look on eBay or craigslist for postings. Oftentimes, if the bride changes her mind about her dress or has to postpone the wedding, you might be able to score a deal on a never-been-worn gown.
• Or combine self-interest with philanthropy. Says Fields, "Buy at one of the sales of donated new and used gowns" staged in many U.S. cities by bridesagainstbreastcancer.org. Or look for a vintage or consignment store that carries wedding dresses. The Bridal Garden in New York City (bridalgarden.org), for example, features designer-donated dresses, and a portion of the proceeds go to charity.

5. The Food

• Make it a daytime reception. “It’s always cheaper to serve lunch or brunch than dinner,” says Fields.
• Try a combination plate. Eliminate a choice of entrée to save on your food bill. “Serve a couple of grilled shrimp with a couple of beef medallions," Naylor says. “This cuts down on the cost, since the chef doesn’t need to buy enough of all the entrées to allow for people to change their minds.” Or serve an inexpensive dish like chicken and pasta and let the chef shine by creating great sauces.
• Avoid the traditional sit-down dinner or buffet meal altogether. Instead, host a cocktail reception with cake and punch or cake and cocktails. Or have a potluck reception, which makes for a less formal, more intimate wedding with a nice feeling of community.

6. The Liquor

• Serve signature cocktails. “Alcohol is one of the biggest expenses of a wedding and can burn a hole in your budget fast,” says Fields. Since most reception sites charge for every bottle opened, even if it was for just one drink, consider offering a limited bar. Choose a signature cocktail (or a series of signature cocktails) that use one type of liquor. Then, ask to stock a few other bottles based on the wedding party’s preferences (i.e., if your dad drinks only scotch). Another option is to serve just beer, wine, and enough champagne for toasts.

7. The Wedding Cake

• Add finishing touches yourself. “The cost of a wedding cake is all about the labor,” says Naylor, “so forget sugar-paste flowers or matching the lace from your gown in fondant.” Instead, try using real lace or satin ribbon wrapped around each layer. It costs almost nothing; just pin it on and it looks lovely. Or use a few real flowers here and there, scattered artistically. Also, go low, says Fields: “The more height, the more money―it takes more labor to build a taller cake.”
• Have a small cake. You can have a wonderfully decorated, yet smaller cake on display that’s used for cutting, and then have a sheet cake in the kitchen for serving.

8. The Flowers

• Make your own centerpieces. This is definitely a time commitment, so consider making the centerpieces for the cocktail tables or the rehearsal dinner. “A lot of people are using freshroses.com and other websites to order wholesale flowers to make their own centerpieces,” says Fields. “You can order enough flowers to do 15 for about $300, then check out how-to sites for DIY instructions.” (See Turn Supermarket Flowers Into Beautiful Bouquets) Or go online to check out the wedding flower packages from Costco―have bouquets and centerpieces shipped to you for huge savings.
• Choose seasonal and local flowers for your reception. “This not only brings the season into your event but it also cuts costs, because your florist won’t have to import any exotic or out-of-season blooms,” says David Tutera, an event planner. (Learn what will be blossoming on your big day with the Wedding Flower Finder Tool.)
• Use one kind of flowers in your bouquets and arrangements. It’s a budget-friendly move because your florist will need to place only one bulk order. “This brings a chic monochromatic look to your event,” adds Tutera.
• Avoid cascades. Like cakes, the hidden cost of flowers is the labor. “Order or make small, hand-tied bouquets for the bride and attendants―cascades require a lot of wiring, and more labor means higher cost,” says Naylor.

9. The Photographer and Videographer

• Try a less-expensive package. "Photographers usually offer packages based on the hours they’ll work," says Naylor. To buy a less expensive (shorter) package, she suggests, “do your at-home, getting-ready pictures as candids. Cut the cake early so you can release the on-the-clock shooters, and let your guests supplement your album with candids.”
• Talk to former brides. To help you decide whether you’re really going to need the 1,000-picture package or whether 500 will do, find people “with similar sensibilities to yours and see what their experience was,” says Naylor.
• Consider hiring a photography-school student. Make sure you check out his or her portfolio, with examples of portraits. Though, Fields says, “it can cut the bill in half,” it’s not worth the savings if photos aren’t in focus.

10. The Invitations, Programs, and Favors

• Take advantage of the talents of the bridal party and other friends and family. Anything you can make yourself becomes a fun shared effort and can save a lot. “My aunt did her own invitations and program for her wedding because she wanted the personal touch,” says Post.
• Make some items do double duty. To save the cost of printed place cards, add guests’ names to the favors and set one at each place, or print the names at the top of your menu cards.
• Make your own favors. If you have time, whip up your grandma’s famous macaroons or make your own chocolate-covered almonds. “Edibles are the most appreciated,” says Naylor. “Especially for nighttime weddings―a bag of cookies will be gone before the guests hit the car.”
• Skip favors. Place a bowl of candies on the cake table with a note saying, “Please enjoy these candies. In lieu of favors we’ve made a donation to charity.”

(source)

*~Sassy Bride~*

A Photographers Tips

I was browsing through facebook today and something caught my eye. I saw an advertisement for beautiful photography. Captured by the lovely photograph on the right of my screen, I decided to click on it. It led me to Don Wright Photography. He has some wonderful pictures and some great deals right now. Go check him out.

But, I also found some valuable information for all us soon-to-be brides. On his blog, he has a list of what you should know before your engagement photo session with a photographer. I think they are great tips. You can find them below.

"1. Wear clothing that makes you look and feel like yourself, don’t pull out that shirt that looks nice, but you NEVER wear.

2. Avoid patterns or really bold stripes as it distracts from your wonderful face

3. Don’t wear matching clothes. Please. It looks cheesy and doesn’t provide separation between you two unique individuals.

4. Bring a change of clothes if you want a different look. Maybe several depending on timeframe.

5. Don’t camouflage yourself!! If we’re outside in spring, don’t wear green - if were in a concrete alley doing some grunge shots, don’t wear grey!

6. Men or women can wear jackets or other accessories to vary the look.

7. For ladies, I recommend getting hair and makeup professionally done for any session. Some photographers provide one, I have several who help with my sessions if you’re interested!

8. Mineral makeup is wonderful in photos. Regardless of mineral or not, bring some extra to touchup mid-shoot.

9. I ask everyone I shoot to meet with me several days before-hand for drinks/coffee - it sounds strange, but its the best way to get good photos as we skip the whole “getting to know eachother” 1/2 hour -

10. My photos are about YOU so don’t you dare act like anyone but yourself - and let me know some of your FAVORITE PLACES before hand - I’d like to shoot there!"

(source)

*~Sassy Bride~*

Dilemma for 'Maids and 'Men

So...I'm a little concerned. I like things to be even...like the same number of things on each side. Symmetrical, I guess you could say. For my sister's wedding recently, she had three 'maids and her hubby had three 'men. It looked great in pictures.

Photo Credit: My Mom!!

My dilemma is that my FH has FIVE 'men and I only have THREE 'maids. I'm sorry worried that our pictures will look...not how I want. I know have some time to make new friends and put them in my wedding since I'm not getting married until 2011, but I still have reservations.

What do you ladies think? Should I push myself to find two more 'maids so that it's even and symmetrical? I am not about to tell my FH that he can't have is 5 guys. That's just awful. I'm so confused. This is probably the one thing that has been plaguing me the longest about our wedding.

What to do?

Please help...

*~Sassy Bride~*