When In Doubt, Organize!

A few nights ago, I was having trouble falling asleep. After watching more episodes of HGTV's House Hunters than I care to admit, I decided to focus on organizing some of the wedding information I had been setting aside stuffing into a binder until I felt like putting it into its proper place. Well, my organization obsession got the best of me, and I started what ended up being a 2-day process of organizing/printing/labeling all of the important wedding info I have, and creating my ultimate wedding planning binder.

Now before you ask - yes, I know that you can go to any bookstore and find oodles of choices for wedding organization. In fact, shortly after Ryan and I got engaged, I was sucked in to the wedding section at Barnes & Noble, and bought this little guy:

I just HAD to have it / Image via Barnes and Noble

I looked at each and every one of their options before finally settling on this planner. I loved that it not only had an extensive overall checklist, but also a check list for each sub-section as well, with to-do items for things like booking a florist and making sure your bridesmaids get their dresses on time. It seemed like a great purchase - I had 12 months of planning ahead of me, and I loved the idea of being organized from start to finish.

Then, somewhere along the way, I realized I really wasn't using the planner. While I loved the extensive information as a newly engaged bride-to-be, I began to realize there was a lot of fluff taking up space in this particular planner. I considered sifting through the pages, taking out things I didn't need, but the binder itself is very large, and I have a weird pet peeve about a large binder with only a few pages. This led me to my next option, making my own planner. This is where my sleepless night comes into play - I decided to start fresh with an empty binder I had left over from a class, and use the elements of the binder I had bought, mixed with my own organization.

Personal Photo

Personal Photo

First of all, I kept the calendar right up front where I would see it immediately. I use it only for important dates and payment reminders so they don't slip through the cracks.

I chose to not only divide the binder into sections like ceremony, dress, and music, but also into subsections. This really helped me to personalize the planner, and include sections for vendors I had already booked.

Personal Photo

Subdivision of Music into Harp & DJ / Personal Photo

For each vendor, I printed out the contract we had signed, as well as the lists of information from the Piazza about what our package includes. I did the same thing with the photographer and videographer so that I would have the information easily accessible if I needed to look back at what our package included.

Megan Fortner Photography / Personal Photo

Personal Photo

Finally, because the front looked a little bare, I headed over to Wedding Chicks and printed off one of their wedding signs. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done! (Excuse the wrinkles on the paper - Memphis likes to stand on top of the binder for some reason.)

Personal Photo

The most significant part of this organization was taking the time to get all of my wedding information in one place. Before, I would just refer to my email when I needed to look something up, but now it is so much easier to have it all in one place, and have a hard copy to look at. It will also be convenient to carry the planner with me when I start meeting with our coordinator at the Piazza three months out from the wedding (we're getting so close! how is this possible!?)

If I could give my self seven months ago some advice, I would definitely tell her to skip the bookstore planner, and just create your own. There are so many great resources online that can be printed out - I love the spreadsheets here - and you can really create a planner that is personalized and fits your wedding.

Side note: for all of the things I can't easily do with pen and paper, I hop over to Google Docs. It made creating the guest list and getting Save the Dates ready such an easy process. It also allows my mom to help me with addresses and add them in her self!

How do you organize the oodles of information that come with planning a wedding? Did you create your own system or rely on Martha Stewart and friends to help you out?

Invitation Inspiration

When passed the five month out mark, the wedding timelines (darn those things!) started telling me it was time to get the invitation show on the road. Choosing our invitations was something I'd been putting off for a while because I was kind of afraid to make a decision! I understand it's just a piece of paper to many guests, but here in the wedding world we all know it is SO much more than that. Invitations are your guests first peek at what the wedding will be like. They also contain tons of important information if you choose the bundled route, which I am a huge fan of.

There are an unbelievable amount of decisions when it comes to invitations; what style, what kind of paper, wording, fonts, graphic design... the list goes on! Although I've proved to be a one and done kind of planner when it comes to the wedding, with the invitations I had made a promise to myself that I would shop around and really find something I was pleased with (not that I wasn't pleased with the other choices, but you catch my drift.)

Let's begin with our invitation style. Mr. Coach and I are keeping it classy when it comes to the wedding decoration and atmosphere, so it's only natural that our invitations would reflect that. I want something somewhat traditional..

Image via Wedding Paper Divas

But, maybe not so, ..well, plain. When you click on the "Traditional" link on many wedding invitation sites, you get items like this. We want classy, but not boring by any means!

Something a little more like this:

 Grand Lace via Minted

White Lace via Minted / Why yes, I do love lace! How could you tell!? ;) 

I love that these choices still have a traditional feel, while each incorporating a beautiful design (...which both happen to include lace. It's a bit of an obsession.)

When I browse invitation websites, my eyes are drawn to script and calligraphy type fonts. I think that type of writing fits our style really well, so I'm leaning toward a design that emphasizes it. When it comes to the overall look, I really want our names to be bold and draw the attention, with the information secondary. Yes, I'm a bride who wants some attention! ;) While the pictures above both included beautiful designs, they still weren't quite what I was looking for.

A while back, we ordered our Save the Dates from Minted. We chose a fun design, Minted's Bold Stripe Save the Date, with plans for something more romantic for the invitations.

Overall, our order with Minted was a great experience. The paper quality, as well as the printing, was fabulous, they were printed exactly as I had designed in the proof, and they were delivered to my apartment so quickly - literally, days sooner than the expected delivery. For these reasons, I headed over to Minted, with hopes of finding a design I liked so that we could relive the experience with the invitations. With the previous criteria in mind, I began my search of Minted's website, and designs like these caught my eye:

Heartthrob via Minted

Float + Spring Shades via Minted.com

It was clear to me very quickly that I was not going to have any trouble finding the right design for us on Minted. They also offer a great custom color option, making it easy to match any design you like with your wedding color scheme. I'm obviously a big fan ;)

Was it hard for you to find or design an invitation that matched your wedding style? Anyone care to share your inspiration alongside the final product?

To Write or To Read?

With just a few months to go, I've started telling myself it's time to settle some of the smaller details for our wedding. I've chosen pretty much all of the vendors that will have a part in our day, but it's time to get down to the nitty gritty and make those small yet oh-so-important decisions about details.

Truth be told, I haven't given much thought to the ceremony. Yes, I know where it will be and who will play the music, but other than that it's really just a blank slate that needs to be filled. We know that Mr. C's youth pastor from the church he attended through high school will be officiating the ceremony, but we haven't even spoken with him yet about the way he usually "runs" a wedding. For the most part, we are keeping it very traditional, and I feel as if we really won't stray too much from his format for ceremonies. However, there is one question that is yet to be answered: will we write our own vows, or read/repeat the traditional ones?

There are many things I like about both options. Traditional Christian wedding vows are so, well, traditional! When I think of a wedding ceremony, I think of couples reciting after the pastor their respective "With this ring, I thee wed" and promising to love, cherish, have, and hold. I love that these vows and readings are such a classic representation of a wedding.

BUT, I will be the first to admit that they can seem a bit impersonal. Yes, each of the things you're promising to do in the vows are important, but they really aren't personalized to any particular couple. Writing your own vows gives you the freedom to be creative, and to vow things that are unique to your relationship and the two of you as a couple.

Another reason I'm really fond of writing your own vows is because I love getting to hear them in a wedding video. Even more so, I love that the wedding video allows your to relive them again and again.

This video by Loveshot Productions is a great example of how beautiful handwritten vows can sound on video. You can skip to 2:44 for the wonderful vow goodness, or you can watch the entire video and tear up like me! I just love how personal and heartfelt is.

So there are things I like about both options - the classic nature of one, the personalized emotions of the other. What's a girl to do? Well, y'all know how I am about decisions - when I can't make one, I just choose both!

I talked to Mr. Coach and surprisingly he was not against the idea of us writing something for each other and reading it during the ceremony. We also both like the idea of the traditional vows so we wanted to include those as well.

Now, the question is, how do we incorporate both? See, I knew these details were going to be difficult.

Tell me about your ceremony structure - did you go the traditional route where you could just listen and repeat, or were you brave enough to read your own words to your significant other? Anyone have a success story with using both elements?

Honeymooning With Mickey

Mr. Coach paid the final balance on our trip just a few days ago, so it's official - We're going on a cruise for our honeymoon! But not just any cruise, a Disney Cruise! That's right, we're going to spend our first few days as husband and wife relaxing with Mickey and all of his friends.

The Disney Dream / Photo Credit: Disney Cruise Line

I know what you're thinking, a Disney Cruise for your honeymoon? And you would have somewhat of a point. Yes, the Disney Cruise Line does focus on family vacations and events for kids. Yes, there will be many, many kids on the boat with us. But that won't stop us!

Mr. Coach and I (along with The Potion's, The Castle's and others) are both really big fans of Disney for multiple reasons. First of all, Disney goes all out when it comes to accommodations and experience. Case in point: Grand Floridian & Grand Californian.

Six Story Lobby, Grand Californian Hotel, Walt Disney Land 

Grand Floridian Hotel, Walt Disney World

But it's not just the hotels, its the atmosphere. They don't let the fact that their main clientele is 12 & under effect the quality. They go all out with themes, decorations, and quality service.  Another (significant) reason we love Disney is the FOOD. We love some good food, y'all. While I haven't been to Victoria & Albert's (I would've been too young to appreciate it anyway) Mr. Coach has experienced the food there and can't wait for more yummy Disney cuisine. The ship we will be going on has one French inspired restaurant that I am particularly excited about, with a menu designed by Chef Arnaud Lallement, as well as Scott Hunnel from Disney World's Victoria and Albert's. All of that to say - we love food and are already salivating over the yummy meals that will be waiting on that big ocean liner.

But why Disney? Surely we could get good food and great service on many other cruise ships? Well, to be quite frank: we really just like Disney, and the fact that the boat will be filled with families really doesn't bother us much at all. In fact, we're kind of excited about it. It will be a laid back atmosphere, and lively at the same time. Mr. Coach has been to both Disney World and Disney Land multiple times. I've experienced Disney World as well as two previous cruises. We're just Disney people!

Another reason we are A-Okay with this cruise line is because we will have this to return to whenever we please:

Private Deck/ Royal Suite, Disney Dream

We are more than just a little excited about our suite. Complete with our own hot tub, we will be able to slip away to the privacy of our room and deck whenever we'd like.  One particular thing we really like about Disney, and this room, is the classic elegance they use to decorate. Judging by this room, you would never guess that the boat is covered with Snow White and Cinderella inspired decor, or that there are Disney characters on every deck. We're so excited about the contrast between the vintage suite and the Donald Duck pool. We love it all!

So, do you officially think we're crazy now for choosing this as our honeymoon? Where are you guys going for your honeymoon - anywhere that can compete with the weird looks we get when we tell people about our Disney dream? :)

Keeping It Natural: Makeup Trial

Let's talk about makeup.

Rather, let's talk about my lack of things to say about makeup, because I don't wear it nearly as often as I think I should. 

I briefly mentioned here the type of atmosphere where I grew up and the laid back lifestyle I was accustomed to. Now, as we plan our wedding and start our life in a bigger city, I find myself going out more and having more opportunities  to dress up and "put my face on."

But... I don't. 

Without makeup - My daily look (and just to keep it real, my hair is up in a ponytail) :

I would like to say it's because I just like a natural look and choose to wear little to no makeup. But really, I just don't always like to take the time to do it. I've also never really taken the time to learn techniques for eye makeup and the more detailed processes, and my mom chooses not to wear much makeup either, so I never picked up on hints from her. I can do the "basics", I've just never been the girl who liked trying new colors and styles of makeup in her spare time. (For this reason, I also chose not to apply my own makeup for the wedding. It would be pretty non-existent and wouldn't look too great in photos).

However, I refuse to let this be the case on my wedding day. For one, it is probably going to be the most photographed day of my life, and I don't want to look at pictures of my face without makeup. It's also an opportunity to wear more makeup than I usually do, and have a little fun being pampered while someone puts it on. My main request in finding someone to do makeup for the Big Day was that they would be able to do a good job, without making my face look completely different than it does on a normal day. I want a fresh and "bridal" look, but nothing too heavy where I don't feel like myself. 

After looking at many reviews online, I decided to book a trial with Amanda Hugdahl of AH Makeup Artistry. Multiple people mentioned a soft look and feeling like a better version of themselves. I was also pleased with the before and after photos she had posted on her website, so I went into the trial feeling very confident.

Amanda did a great job of matching my skin color, which is very fair, and applying my makeup in a way that fit my personality and (lack of) normal makeup wear. 

These pictures were taken as I left her home studio:

Makeup immediately after the trial run

After I had my makeup done, I called Mr. Coach and joked with him that he needed to take me out that night because I couldn't waste having it done by sitting at home ;) To my delight, when I got home and he saw my makeup, he agreed! We decided to make the trek downtown for a Dallas Stars game. This is my makeup 4 or 5 hours later at the game:

Go Stars! 

Happy spectators!

I really just needed a reapplication of lip gloss and I would've been good to go. I definitely understand that my makeover was nothing drastic, but it was enough to be noticeable in person, and to make me feel confident in having my picture taken, and that is exactly what I wanted for the wedding. 

Just for a dramatic effect, a before/normal day, and my face with makeup:

I am more than happy with the result! I think the eyes are the most noticable difference, and I'm happy about that. I booked Amanda, and chose a package that includes the trial, bridal portrait makeup, and the wedding, so we should have it perfected by the time the wedding gets here!

Are you doing something different and fun for your wedding makeup? Or are you just aiming for a natural, better version of your normal makeup? 

Bridesmaid Dresses: Found!

After the initial trip, Bridesmaid R and I decided to continue our search at Lasting Bridal Couture where I had purchased my bridal gown. I cannot speak highly enough of Sarah, the consultant at Lasting Bridal Couture who helped me find my gown. She has been so helpful and patient over the phone as well the multiple times I have been back to the store to show different family members/bridesmaids my dress. I knew that if we went to check out the dresses there we would not only get a better price for the girls on their dresses, but we would get the wonderful assistance of Sarah. So, off we went!

Just a reminder, we were looking for:

• A non-strapless dress
• Some sort of detail on the shoulders - beading, flowers, etc.
• Light, flowy material
• A dress that was offered in a nice shade of red

After the previous trip, I had found a few dresses online I was really hoping to see in person: a one shoulder option, similar to what we had already tried, as well as a two shoulder option with beautiful draping on the shoulders:

After Six 6638 

Lela Rose LX 160

Unfortunately, Lasting Bridal Couture only carried one of these options. Bridesmaid R was able to try on the two shoulder option, and we loved it, but not the one shoulder option. She also tried on two others that we liked, one very similar to the dress she had tried at Georgio's with the flower detail: 

After Six 6611

We decided this one was a little more flattering and it became a front runner in the decision. After trying on a few others, including the two-shoulder option I had found online, our top three choices were the After Six Dress above, as well as the two dresses below:

Bill Levkoff 115  

Again, the After Six 6638 / The sample was big on
R's tiny self, but still beautiful!

After much debating we decided to knock out the first option. (Side note: I have no idea why each of the sample dresses we liked happened to be in blue! Crazy coincidence!) I wanted something a little more unique, and I felt as if I had seen this option a lot. 

So, our top two were the Bill Levkoff dress and the After Six I had found online previously. I really liked the Levkoff dress. I thought the sweetheart neckline and the shoulder detail was gorgeous. On its own it was a beautiful gown. However, the decision came down to what we thought would look good on three girls standing side by side, as well as which dress would look good next to mine. Again, Sarah was a tremendous help. We agreed that the After Six dress would really compliment the look of my gown, and this was the deciding factor.

It. Was. Tough. They are both beautiful dresses, and in some ways I liked the Bill Levkoff dress a little more, but the other gown was beautiful as well, and it happened to be significantly cheaper, which made a difference. (I actually discovered later that the Bill Levkoff dress was not even offered in a true red option, so that would've been a huge letdown if I had my heart set on it!)

So, we had made the decision! ...... Well, not so fast. 

Remember that one shoulder option I had mentioned earlier that I had also found online? Lasting Bridal Couture did not carry it, but another shop literally five minutes away had it in the store. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to see that dress in person. 

We hopped in the car and hurried over to Circle Park Bridal to try on the dress before they closed. The dress was beautiful and it looked great in person, but we both quickly agreed that it didn't match the two shoulder draping of the other dress. Bridesmaid R came out and went back in the dressing room so quickly I didn't even think to snap a picture - we knew the After Six dress was the one.

Lasting Bridal Couture has a great online setup to order the dresses, which is great for my girls because they are in three different cities. They were each able to order theirs online shortly after we made the decision, and got to take advantage of the great online rate that was offered. I chose to go with the color option Flame. Although online I thought another version of red looked better, the swatches in store said differently and Flame was the choice. It will (hopefully!) look like this once the girls receive it. I can't wait to see it in person!

After Six 6638 - Flame 

Am I the only one who just HAD to see one more option before I made the final decision? Or were you able to say yes to the (bridesmaid) dress as soon as you saw The One?

The (Bridesmaid) Dress Hunt Begins!

The lovely Bridesmaid R and I began our search for dresses in a shop in Waco called Georgio’s. To be honest, this shop pleasantly surprised me. We went one evening, without an appointment, but one of the girls working greeted us and left us to look on our own – I actually really appreciated this because we were just getting started with our search and just wanted to browse. Waco isn’t exactly known for the nicest shops you’ve ever been to, but the staff was friendly, and the store served our purpose well. I will say that right as we were driving up, we saw an employee locking the door, which completely confused us because we had checked the hours. When we asked her about it, she replied “No, we aren’t closed – this is just Waco.” Well said, lady. 

We got started quickly, each choosing a handful of dresses for Bridesmaid R to try on. All of my bridesmaids are very similar in size, so I felt that if we liked the way the dress fit her, it was more than likely going to look good on the other girls.

Most of the dresses that we picked looked something like this:

After Six 6637 

Dessy 2863 

After Six 6622  

I really wanted the girls to wear something with straps or one shoulder because *spoiler alert* my dress is strapless, and I really wanted the contrast.

Most of the dresses were a bust. I decided very quickly that I did not like the heavier look of the satin dresses. I just wanted the girls to wear something flowy and romantic. I also did not like when the one shoulder option completely covered their shoulder and arm, I wanted more of a strap than a sleeve.

After Robin had tried on all of the options, we decided that these were the ones we liked best, although, admittedly, we weren’t super excited about either of them.

Bari Jay Style 644 

We left empty handed, but had gained a little more information about what we liked best and what to look for next:

• Flowy fabric, such as chiffon
• ...but not too much fabric on top
• No strapless! Okay, this was really just one of my demands :)
• Fun detail of some sort on the strap/near the top

How was your first bridesmaid dress shopping experience? A waste of time or learning experience? Or did you knock it out in the first try, and leave with a decision made?  (Lucky!)