Today is THE Day

It's New Year's Eve 2010.

I am marrying my best friend.

I can't believe this day is all ready here.

Since I was little, I had longed for this day, and now that it's here, I'm wishing time had slowed down.

I didn't know it would be here so quickly!

For the first time all week, I don't have somewhere to rush off to in the morning.

I am lounging in bed at my parent's place before I tackle a few last minute errands.

I am hoping that this day will be relaxing and not stressful.

The church is decorated; the reception hall has been decorated since Wednesday morning; the rehearsal is complete.

Now, all that's left on my To Do List is to relax and enjoy this day.

I'm fairly certain that I can succeed in this task.

In less than 12 hours, I will be pronounced Mrs. GrapeJuice, and we will live in peace and harmony for the next seventy plus years!

What a way to ring in the new year.

2011, here we come!!!!!!!!

Oh My Dears...

Would you believe me if I said that life got away from me?

I surely hope so!

I am a Kindergarten teacher this year, and two times a week, I watch PreKindergarteners after school.

I have little to no spare time between teaching 11 Kindergarten students, caring for 5 PreKindergarten students, and planning the wedding. Slowly, but surely, I am getting back onto my feet and now I can devote time to my blog once again! With less than 4 months until my wedding, I'm sure I'll need to vent about it!

In the next few weeks, I'll update you all on what has happened in the past two months!

{oh my, i can't believe it's been that long!}

...please forgive me...

source: stock illustration source

I Can Do That!

I have a jam packed next few weeks before school starts, and I'm stoked about it!

Tomorrow

I'll be meeting with a DJ, going to see some chairs {and hopefully like them!}, and I hope to be signing the catering contract. And, somewhere in there, I'm supposed to be meeting up with my MOH for a coffee date!

Saturday

Mr. GrapeJuice and I will be attending a marriage workshop through the Catholic Diocese of Nashville. It is an Engaged Couples Retreat at Scarritt-Bennett. If you want to read about it, you can click here. We have to fill out a Myers Briggs personality questionnaire form. I hate filling them out because I always get nervous that people will judge me and that I'm answering the questions wrong! {so silly.}

Next Saturday

Mr. GrapeJuice and I will be heading over to Street Tuxedo to check out their suits and tuxedos. I'm hoping to convince him that a gray suit would be the way to go. They look so sleek and would fit into the style of our wedding so well! Hopefully, he'll go for it.

The Last Saturday in July

My ladies from NC are coming in, and we are hopefully going to find a bridesmaid dress! Sadly, my sister won't be joining us because she'll a little newborn to take care of. {I'm going to be an aunt soon!!}

Plus, during all this time, I'm supposed to be setting up my classroom and getting it ready for the next school year. I haven't been able to go in yet though since they're in the process of replacing all of the flooring due to the flood at the beginning of May.

photo :: lolcars

Reckless Abandonment

It's June?!

WHAT?!

Where did the time go?

So much has happened since I last blogged.

I can't believe I abandoned you for nearly a month.

I'm an awful person.

I wish I could say that something devastating happened to me to render me incapable of blogging, but it didn't.

I simply didn't have the time.

Silly career! 

Why do you have to suck up all my time?

Well, it's summer time, which means I have time to myself to plan my wedding - finally.

This also means I'll have a lot more content to share with you all!

That's always good, right?

I'll have more tomorrow.

Wedding Progress

Over the weekend, my mother asked me if I had made any wedding progress. I looked at her and laughed. I just got back from a cruise and was not even ready to think about those things. She gave me the mom talk though. You know, the one that says you need to get on that sooner rather then later; the one that makes you feel like a disappointing child again. =]
Well, she got bored on Saturday and wanted to head over to Hobby Lobby because she had a coupon. She made a copy for me so that I could use one too. 25% goes a long way when you're on a budget and trying to buy a house. (more on the house later) While at Hobby Lobby, I had a planning break through. I picked a centerpiece style, which is perfect for our wedding, and I decided on flowers for the bridesmaids to carry. Later on this week, I will break it down and show you what I am thinking. Plus, I will attempt to show you the DIY step-by-steps that go along with the project. =]

AHHHHHHH!

Ladies {and gentlemen?},
      I am so,so,so,so,so,so,so,soooooooooooo sorry that I have abandoned you, but you would not believe the past two weeks I've had. It's been one thing after another after another. This past week was Catholic Schools Week. If you're not familiar with it, basically I don't get to teacher at all. =] There's always something going on in the classroom, like Parent's Day when the parents come in and do different activities {not academic work}, Celebrity Reader where the Mayor came and read to my class, having the high school band come and perform at your school, etc. See, how there's no room to teach in there at all? That's why I was at my wit's end and unable to think of anything. So much stress. Blech. I only have one more week until my cruise, and then everything should calm down. So, please, just bear with me. =]
     In other news, Mr. GrapeJuice and I may have found a place to call home after searching for a little over a month. It's going to be a huge step in the right direction for us. I'm hoping that all the nitpicking will get ironed out too; we've been a little less than kind to each other with all the stress between us. =[ But, also, I've made it to 50+ followers, which means that I'll be having a give away in the very near future so look for it!!! Please don't leave me yet. I promise things are looking up! Wedding plans are being made. =]

Possible Date Change...again

Originally, Mr. GrapeJuice and I had picked the all-typical Saturday night wedding.

photo : southwest airlines spirit

Our original plan was to have our wedding on a three day weekend so that all our OOT family and friends would be able to make it and have an extra day of travel. We are still highly considering this, and it will most likely be part of date picking. [See? Trying to be considerate of the guests! No bridezilla yet.]

 photo : gretchen b photography

The first weekend that was spat out was Memorial Day weekend. While I thought it would be a good idea and good timing, it won't be possible. I'm a teacher, and that's the end of the school year. Talk about stress!

 

photo : naomi win

The next 3-day weekend suggestion was 4th of July. I jumped on that bandwagon quickly. It was the perfect time because the 4th will fall on a Monday in 2011, which will give people an extra day to travel home.

photo : barrie downle photography

Now, here's where the possible date change comes in. Mr. GrapeJuice and I had originally chosen July 2, 2011 as our wedding date. It hadn't been set in stone because - obviously - we still have time to make that decision. But, we've seriously been struggling with where to hold our ceremony and reception. We're both Catholic so it's a no brainer that we'll be getting married in the church. But...which church? That's been our struggle all along. Don't get me wrong. I love the church that I'm a parishoner of, but, the new church is horribly designed. Hello! No center aisle = epic fail! [for me at least] Below are some pictures of the new church I found on our facebook group.

Picture One: A view of the whole church from the side

Picture Two: A view of the altar from the center aisle

Picture Three: A view of the baptismal font and door I would enter through

It's a beautiful church, but I always pictured my self walking down a long center aisle to my one true love. Could I suck it up and get married in this church? Absolutely! My grandmother is the wedding coordinator at the facility. My grandfather is a deacon at the church. Definitely some bonus points and freebies heading my way. But...the reception facility leaves a LOT to be desired as well...if you have your wedding on a Saturday that is.

On Friday, Mr. GrapeJuice, my parents, my grandparents, and myself all went to the church Christmas party. The party was held in the old church. And, let me tell you, it's gorgeous! It was originally a barn that was remodeled into a church. It has stunningly stained wood for the ceiling, and the lighting can be adjusted from bright, bright, bright to a sultry, romantic feel. Plus, it easily and comfortably fits 200+ people with a more than adequate dance floor, as we discovered on Friday.

photo : facebook

The only downside is that if we want to use this gorgeous space for our reception, we'd have to have the wedding on a Friday. There are pews and other knickknacks that have to be moved out and moved back in before Sunday mass. Totally doable though!

So...here's a recap:

1. we still don't have a for sure date

2. i could compromise and settle for my church even though i hate the logistics of the design and it cost millions of dollars to make it look like that

3. a friday night wedding gives us a prettier more spacious reception venue

4. i hate being indecisive

5. this would be VERY easy on our budget
6. but, now i'd have to rent tables, chairs, linens; find a caterer; etc.

p.s.

Merry Christmas Eve!

A Bridal Luncheon

So...

I totally promised Mr. GrapeJuice that I wouldn't spend any unnecessary money as we are attempting to buy a house soon.

But...

I think it would be super cool to attend the bridal brunch hosted by Her Nashville and the NFocus magazine on January 31, 2010.

Are any fellow Nashville brides planning on attending?

Let me know.

Maybe we can meet up!

photo : flickr [kylie lambert]

Internal Debate

If you didn't know, I have fallen in love with the color gray. Not just any gray - pewter and slate gray. It adds drama to any color scheme, and I think it would look wonderful with our light and flowy wedding colors. Don't get me wrong, I still love silver and think it's a great accent color, but I would much rather have a dramatic feel with the slate or pewter.

Photo : Wedding Paper Divas Blog

See? Absolutely divine! Right? I think so.

Here's the hitch though...

Mr. GrapeJuice is not as in love as I am.

Mainly because of the tux idea I came up with {which I think is genius and he does not}.

Here is what we had originally decided for him and his men {and this is what he still likes}:

It looks good. I don't have a problem with the way it looks.

My love of gray has just overwhelmed my ideas lately.

Here is my updated look with gray:

 

Now that you've had a chance to look at both, we'd like to know your thoughts. Plus, we'd like you to vote in the poll that I've set up. I'm going to keep the poll up until Friday, November 20th. Let us know which you think we should go with!

All Suit Photos : Men's Warehouse

::BUDGET:: Bridal Show Update

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a budget bridal show happening in the Middle TN area.
If you are interested, you should definitely attend!!
Here's an update about what's happening on Saturday.

Budget Bridal Show
Date: October 10, 2009
Time: 9am - 2pm
Location: Old Hickory Country Club
{1904 Hadley Avenue}
{Old Hickory, TN 37138}
Cost: FREE!

Here is a list of Participating Vendors:
[Bakery]
Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca
[Beauty//Hair and Makeup]
Arbonne/Pamela Stoll
Liza Jeane's
Studio BBC Salon
[Decorations]
Balloon Celebrations
Scentsy
[DJ]
Hood Entertainment
Will the DJ
Kevin Thompson DJ
[Event Planner]
Paint the Town Events LLC
[Flowers]
Basket of Flowers
[Formal Wear]
Encore Bridal and Formal Wear
[Insurance]
The Redan Agency
[Jewelry]
Melissa Mayer
[Photographers]
Crystal Bowron Photography
Michelle Hines Photography
Lori Quarles Photography
Worth a Thousand Words
Sloane Photography
[Registries]
Pampered Chef
[Venues]
Old Hickory Country Club
[Wedding Planners]
Weddings by Shelly
I DO Weddings
Your Day of Fairytales
Childress Wedding Events
POSH: Parties on a SHoestring

Elegance Bridal Gala

Last night, my Maid of Honor, MC, and I went to the Elegance Bridal Gala in Mt. Juliet, TN. {{I was the one in the black dress with the big, pink flowers on it. MC was wearing the cream dress with the fabulous purple shoes.}} There were a lot of great vendors there that are native to the area, which was great to see!! Internet research can only take you so far when the little, independent businesses don't have websites.

Here are some of my favorites:
1. Baughman Media Works (I entered the video contest)
2. Buy Invitation Only (no website; 100 invitations for around $85)
3. Dynamic Video (free Save-the-Date video)
4. Sweet Life Designs ($25 invitations if your the DIY type)
5. Destined 2 Wed (recommended a good honeymoon spot in St. Lucia)
6. Details by Margaret (I got a cup and a veil; so much fun and energetic; willing to work with your budget)
7. Relish (made two itty, bitty mock ups - so cute!)

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~*

My Addiction

I have a problem with latching on to new things. For example, whenver I get a new song on iTunes, I play it over and over again because I can’t ever get enough! I’m pretty sure that will be my problem here. I don’t think I’ll be able to tear myself away from my new blog. You can tell because it’s only been a few hours since my very first post. I guess this will keep me from being bored since I am currently unemployed.

Here’s what I’ve discovered that I love so far…

• The Knot – I love the budgeter on this site. You can input your amount, how many people you’ve invited/are attending, and the female and male attendants. It also gives you a breakdown of how much you should spend per person on food, favors, and invitations.

• The Cathedral of the Incarnation – This ceremony site is breathtaking. R and I are Catholic, as are our families. It is important to us to get married in a Catholic Church. It has a beautiful aisle and altar that almost any bride would fall in love with.

• St. Henry’s Catholic Church – As with the Cathedral, this ceremony site is absolutely beautiful. It has the same features that the cathedral does plus more. I love it’s circular foyer/narthex and astonishing stained glass windows. They are so vibrant and would be a great addition to any bride on her wedding day.

• The Cannery Ballroom – This reception venue seems very sleek and modern with a Southern twist. It has great opportunities for many different kinds of decorations wether it be DIY projects or hired lighting with drapery.

• aVenue – I like this reception venue because, like the Cannery Ballroom, it has a nice open feeling. I really enjoy the raised portion of the room which I envision showcasing the DJ and cake so that neither gets bumped into with some crazy dance moves.

• Union Station – I absolutely LOVE this place! I think the decor alone speaks for itself – both outside and inside. It’s just so classic and elegant like I’ve always dreamed. I would love to have my reception here if I could afford it.

• Nashville City Club – I think it looks very crisp and clean, which makes it perfect for any kind of color scheme. It is a major plus because it has a beautiful view of the Nashville skyline, which I love. I’ve been to a wedding where I could see the Charlotte, NC skyline from the roof and LOVED the ambiance created by such a surrounding.

• Loveless Barn – This is looking like a great possibility for R and I. It is very open and seems easy to decorate with candles, lighting, and small flowers. The outside is definitely deceiving. I’m not a country girl by any means and do not want to echo my sister’s Old Spencer Mill wedding, but this place is so divine inside that I can’t get over it. It’s been stuck in my head for awhile now. (Maybe that’s a sign?)

• Casablanca Bridal – Yes, I know that my wedding is 2 years away, but what girl doens’t like trying on bridal gowns. I feel so glamourous and beautiful in them. I have found two from this designer that I love – 1881 and 1938. The even greater thing is…they are under $1000 and aren’t discontinued.
  • 1881 – From the moment I saw it, this dress spoke to me. R wants me in a white dress but I just love the two-tone for this dress. Yes, I know that I can get it in one color, but I’ve seen it that way and do not like it as much. Plus, I love the bling. It’s just enough to give the dress that extra edge. AND, another bonus, it can be made into a halter dress. I’m kind of busty so I would like some extra support for my girls.
  • 1938 – This dress is beautiful too sans the flower. Once on, it shows all the right curves in all the right places. That’s what I love about the new pleated/rouching style – it’s absolutely figure flattering!!! The only thing missing is some shine, but that can easily be added with a necklace and earrings.

• San Patrick – While I cannot post the link to my absolutely favorite dress from this designer. I can give you the name – Eliseos. If you go to the website, you can see the gown. The shop near me – Cherished Memories – had just gotten the dress in when I tried it on. I was very impressed and so were the sales associates. I was the first to try it on and all of us were stunned. I didn’t think I would like a dress with those design elements, but I was pleasantly suprised.

Any pointing in the right direction or opinions on what I have discovered so far would be welcome. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sorry for the cliche. I just seemed to be frustrated all ready and haven’t even begun to do the BULK of my planning yet. Help…

C.