Once the overlay problem has a solution I'll write a post all about how we solved it. In the meantime I thought I would share some of the great resources I've been using for other parts of the wedding. When we first got engaged last June, all I could think about was the wedding and how excited I was to start planning. Being the Podcast Junkie that I am, I went looking for something to listen to while I walked and worked that would give me some good ideas. After scouring iTunes, I found one but it wasn't really my style. I couldn't get into it and abandoned my search. In January I felt compelled to try again and in looking for the first one I tried, I found a new one! The Wedding Planning Podcast was brand new and I checked out the first episode. It was as if the wedding fairy godmothers heard my pleas and inspired Kara to start just the podcast I was looking for. Kara Lamerato is a wedding planning professional based in the San Diego area and a big part of her focus was planning that was accessible. She stressed that you don't need to spend a lot of money to have the wedding of your dreams and that there were a lot of opportunities to do things yourself. She had me at DIY.The entire month of March, Kara did segments related to different aspects of DIYing your wedding. She covered flowers, catering, decor and so much more. I felt like I found my DIY wedding planning soul-mate. I couldn't help but write in to tell her about this whole DIY Dress endeavor because if there was ever going to be another human being to completely understand my DIY mission, it was Kara. She read and responded to my email right away with sweet encouragement and then gave me an awesome shout out on the podcast that made my whole day. She has made me feel like I'm part of a community of brides who would rather do it themselves and on the days when you're struggling to work something out, that can make all the difference.
It wasn't until I listened to the podcast that I realized how DIY the wedding was turning out to be. So far the list of things we are DIYing includes our catering, venue prep and decorating, the dress, the decorations, the Save the Dates, the invitations, and even the music until the band arrives to take over.
Finding a resource that was objectively focused on ways to plan a beautiful, personalized wedding without overspending was amazing because sometimes I've felt a little like a cheapskate when it has come to dealing with vendors. I know so many great wedding vendors in the area that really do offer incredible experiences and service. Having come from a small part of the wedding industry myself when I worked for a jeweler, I understand that the vendors that do this for a living in my area are really great people and they are passionate and are great at what they do. My decision to do-it-myself is partly because I like that I get to hand craft this awesome celebration of our love. There are so many little details that feel like inside jokes of our life together that we get to let everyone in on for one day in August. I'm sure that I could find great vendors that would help me make this personal on a budget but I like getting my hands dirty.
I don't have it in me to pay for something I'm relatively sure I can have more fun doing myself. I really think that is the key. At first we were going to borrow the chairs we needed from a local organization that wouldn't have charged us anything. We would have had to drive out to get them and bring them back and accounting for the distance and time sacrifice and all it would demand of us on the weekend of the wedding, we decided to rent them instead and have them delivered and then picked up. The motto of this wedding is that "If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong." If I find I'm doing it wrong, I'll rent stupid chairs and I'll like it.
I finished the design of my invitations which I also asked Kara about and she gave excellent advice in keeping it simple. I ended up just creating jpeg files in photoshop and then printing them as pictures from an online printer. There are 3 layers in 3 different sizes. The invite information is on the 4x4. RSVP info is on the 4x6 and direction info is on a 4x8 that, fun fact, came with an envelope because that size is classified as a "greeting card." Boom. Wrap the 3 layers in a paper doily and tie with string. Rock and roll.I also had an awesome girl's day with one of my Flower Maidens, Savana. We went to Bangor and found her a gorgeous dress and some snazzy sneakers that will be perfect for wrangling Brutus down the aisle. After scoring with the dress she wanted to go back and hang out with Brutus (do you see why I love this kid?) so we brought him for a walk and had an adventure at the playground complete with playing plinko off the slide with dog treats. She would be at the top dropping them down and he'd be at the bottom snatching them up. To say we had the best day ever would be an understatement.
Getting a shout out on my favorite wedding blog, getting one of the flower girl dresses purchased, and completing the invitation design has made me feel like a wedding planning rockstar this week. If there were wedding planning Oscars, I'm not saying I'd win one but I would definitely be a hot contender... I'm clearly taunting fate to throw me a spitball and I'll regret this boastful rant... but I'm going to enjoy this feeling while it lasts.
<3 The Future Mrs. Luce
123 Days till the wedding
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