Devin has been hard at work on the logo. She came over today and spent most of the afternoon on the computer. That girl has mad skills!
Thom and I wanted to incorporate a little fun bit of us into the logo. It is just meant to be a slight detail that can be easily passed over, unless you are looking for it. And Devin nailed it!
Thom and I need to figure out how we are going to word things. We need to work on the Save the Dates first, so we can get those off to the printer, and then out to all of you.
Speaking of printer, I need to call my Mom's friends Charlotte and Greg. Greg is a printer, he has printed out the invitations for my parents Chili Cook Off. Devin designed those invitations too.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
My Haggling Skills
Let me preface this with the fact that I suck at negotiating! I brought Thom along when I had to buy furniture for my house (soon to be our house), to ward off the evil sales men.
So I did my research on the dress. I called around to all of the shops in MI and OH that carry My Dress to get pricing information.
While Jax and I were out and about after meeting with the florist last weekend, we stopped in at Kray Chic the bridal salon where I found the dress. I saw the same sales lady, Lori, and tried the dress on to show Jax. After showing off the dress, and solidifying that it really is THE DRESS, I started talking price with Lori.
I asked how much I could expect to spend for alterations, and then was straight forward and asked if they did price matching? I honestly did not expect them to, but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask. I explained where I had gotten the reduced quote from, and before I could finish my thought she said, well we can do better than that!
Then she said when I was really ready to sit down and sign for the dress to come back and we could talk details. Then she winked at me and said if I brought her in some coffee maybe she would throw in the alterations.
I was really happy to hear this bridal salon was flexible, and willing to talk the details with me. I really liked working with Lori, and am looking forward to going back soon to sign for the dress!
So I did my research on the dress. I called around to all of the shops in MI and OH that carry My Dress to get pricing information.
While Jax and I were out and about after meeting with the florist last weekend, we stopped in at Kray Chic the bridal salon where I found the dress. I saw the same sales lady, Lori, and tried the dress on to show Jax. After showing off the dress, and solidifying that it really is THE DRESS, I started talking price with Lori.
I asked how much I could expect to spend for alterations, and then was straight forward and asked if they did price matching? I honestly did not expect them to, but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask. I explained where I had gotten the reduced quote from, and before I could finish my thought she said, well we can do better than that!
Then she said when I was really ready to sit down and sign for the dress to come back and we could talk details. Then she winked at me and said if I brought her in some coffee maybe she would throw in the alterations.
I was really happy to hear this bridal salon was flexible, and willing to talk the details with me. I really liked working with Lori, and am looking forward to going back soon to sign for the dress!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Photo Hunt Round Three
Over the past two weeks we have meet with four photographers. We meet two in coffee shops around town and two at their home/office. We reviewed some more of their sample photos, asked for details on their packages, and just got a feel for their personality.
After some deliberation, but not really a lot, we have made a decision... drum roll please... our photographer is Bobby Alcott!
After some deliberation, but not really a lot, we have made a decision... drum roll please... our photographer is Bobby Alcott!
Bobby was referred to us by Christian, one of my co-workers. Christian is in a photo club with Bobby, and said that besides being an awesome photographer, Bobby is one of the nicest people he has ever met.
As if that recommendation was not enough to warrant meeting Bobby, I checked out his website and I really liked his stuff. He does an awesome job of not only capturing the moment but capturing the landscape and architecture as well.
We meet Bobby at a cute little coffee shop in downtown Royal Oak. When I told Christian where we were meeting, he explained that the photo club displays the members' work there. Then he went on to explain that this is not your everyday photo club.
Bobby is actually the founder of the non profit photo club called Exposure Detroit. The goal of the club is to educate inspiring photographers and give them places around town to display their work and gain exposure. Bobby does the wedding photography as a way to pay the bills, but he also selects at least one of the club members to help photo each wedding. Bobby and I are both trying to talk Christian into helping out with mine and Thom's wedding.
Bobby was the first photographer we met with, and I must confess he was my favorite all along. But honestly the other photographers each had at least one thing that we didn't like.
Thom and I are excited that we have found such a great photographer. You can check him out at his website, http://www.bobbyalcott.com/slideshow.php.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Flowers
Jacqui (MOH) and I meet with Fanny The Florist this past Saturday. Fanny is my coworker Anica's mother. Thanks for the referral Anica, your mom is awesome!
We meet at a nice little restaurant in Livonia over a late lunch/early dinner. Fanny brought tons of pictures and books filled with flowers and designs, and she brought me a bouquet of fresh cut flowers! It was such a nice surprise!
We meet at a nice little restaurant in Livonia over a late lunch/early dinner. Fanny brought tons of pictures and books filled with flowers and designs, and she brought me a bouquet of fresh cut flowers! It was such a nice surprise!
I had a rough idea of what I wanted for flowers, and I explained it to her over the phone when we set up our lunch date. She put the flowers I told her about, and a few extra creative ones in the bouquet she gave me.
Jacquie and I looked through all of the pictures and books while Fanny was explaining all of the options. After seeing all of the possibilities we came up with a rough idea for all of the flowers.
I like gardening, so I ruled out silk (fake) flowers, and tinting or spraying the flowers to be a specific color. I just want natural flowers. Our colors of blue and green made things a little tricky. It is hard to find a dark blue flower that doesn't look purple.
Fanny had some fun ways to differentiate my bouquet from the girls' bouquets, and to differentiate Thom's boutonniere from the guys' boutonnieres. I wanted to add some more color to the boys' boutonnieres and though of putting a colored bow on them, but Fanny quickly corrected me and said, "Oh No! Honey, you do NOT but a bow on a man!" :)
She was so funny and super nice. It should be great working with her.
I don't want to give too many details away about the flowers, but I will say that two of the flowers in the bouquet Fanny gave me will be incorporated into the wedding flowers...some where.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Hotel Accommodations
Today I signed on the dotted line for the Hotel rooms on the wedding weekend, or as the legally binding agreement referred to it, the Ross Godward Wedding Block.
We, and I hope you, will be staying at the Southfield Marriott Detroit for the wedding weekend. Well I won't be staying there on Friday night, just Thom...ya know bad luck and all! So I will be home with the girls and he will be at the hotel with the boys.
Thom and I toured the hotel a few weeks back and negotiated the rooms rates. The hotel was able to pull info from Chris and Christie's wedding to see how many rooms were used at the Marriott in Columbus. Thom and I started with those numbers to come up with our room block, and figured in a few differences given the location of our family members.
The hotel is throwing in some extra goodies for all of us! The major things are a shuttle service, breakfast, and extended wedding block rates. The shuttle will take you from the hotel to the reception site, and back. Breakfast at the restaurant in the lobby is included with each room. For those of you coming up to the great state of Michigan a few days before the wedding, you will be able to get the wedding block room rate from Wednesday - Sunday.
We will send out more details of how to reserve your rooms with the Save The Date cards.
We, and I hope you, will be staying at the Southfield Marriott Detroit for the wedding weekend. Well I won't be staying there on Friday night, just Thom...ya know bad luck and all! So I will be home with the girls and he will be at the hotel with the boys.
Thom and I toured the hotel a few weeks back and negotiated the rooms rates. The hotel was able to pull info from Chris and Christie's wedding to see how many rooms were used at the Marriott in Columbus. Thom and I started with those numbers to come up with our room block, and figured in a few differences given the location of our family members.
The hotel is throwing in some extra goodies for all of us! The major things are a shuttle service, breakfast, and extended wedding block rates. The shuttle will take you from the hotel to the reception site, and back. Breakfast at the restaurant in the lobby is included with each room. For those of you coming up to the great state of Michigan a few days before the wedding, you will be able to get the wedding block room rate from Wednesday - Sunday.
We will send out more details of how to reserve your rooms with the Save The Date cards.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Pre Cana with Father Fred
Thom and I are planning on getting married at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Farmington. We have been attending Mass there, every other weekend, for nearly a year. On the other weekends we go to the United Methodist Church in Downtown Farmington.
On this historical day for our country, we started our Pre-Cana (or per marriage) courses with Father Fred.
We met with Father Fred for two hours to basically get acquainted with each other. He was very funny, and easy to talk to. He asked tons of questions about how we met, and how Thom proposed. We basically gave him the summary of our first two blog entries, Our History and The Proposal. And I don't know why, but I was not expecting this question when he asked, "Why do you want to get married?" Thom and I both answered, because we love each other. Father Fred also asked about our families, education, and jobs.
He gave us his humorous take on why marriage fails. He usually quotes movies in his sermons, and of course this was also from a movie. So according to Father Fred, and the movie Moonstruck, marriages fail because men are afraid of death! He giggled and said, "I suppose we should not be talking about death when everyone is so happy talking about marriage." But he continued to explain that the whole death thing comes from the rebirth of Thom and I as a union according the the holy sacrament of marriage.
We have another meeting set up for next week to talk some more with Father Fred. We are going to suggest meeting over dinner next week, because Thom and I were starving after this meeting.
On this historical day for our country, we started our Pre-Cana (or per marriage) courses with Father Fred.
We met with Father Fred for two hours to basically get acquainted with each other. He was very funny, and easy to talk to. He asked tons of questions about how we met, and how Thom proposed. We basically gave him the summary of our first two blog entries, Our History and The Proposal. And I don't know why, but I was not expecting this question when he asked, "Why do you want to get married?" Thom and I both answered, because we love each other. Father Fred also asked about our families, education, and jobs.
He gave us his humorous take on why marriage fails. He usually quotes movies in his sermons, and of course this was also from a movie. So according to Father Fred, and the movie Moonstruck, marriages fail because men are afraid of death! He giggled and said, "I suppose we should not be talking about death when everyone is so happy talking about marriage." But he continued to explain that the whole death thing comes from the rebirth of Thom and I as a union according the the holy sacrament of marriage.
We have another meeting set up for next week to talk some more with Father Fred. We are going to suggest meeting over dinner next week, because Thom and I were starving after this meeting.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Dress
Mom, Devin, and I went shopping on Saturday. We went to four different bridal boutiques, with little luck. Well Mom had some luck, she found a dress that she likes. I don't know if she is 100% sold on it yet though. At the end of the day on Saturday, we were exhausted, and I was a little discouraged. Even though I didn't think I would find a dress on my first try, it was just the whole process of dress shopping that had me discouraged.
Mom and I went to three more bridal salons this afternoon, but this time I was on a mission. After Saturday I had a good idea of what I wanted, and when I walked into the stores today I meant business. I had no luck at the first two stores, but I was super excited for the third store, because they carried some of the designers whose pictures I had ripped out of magazines.
I went through the third boutique and pulled several dresses, which was a good sign considering I only pulled three dresses at the previous store. But when I tried on this dress and saw it in the mirror I knew it was The Dress. I just kept turning and looking in the mirror. The consultant told my Mom that it was a good sign that I didn't want to get out of the dress.
Oh and that surprise I told you about earlier... I am going to wear My Mom's veil! Even though she says its yellowed and kind of didn't want me to wear it because she thought it just looked old. My Mom's veil looks great with this dress.
I didn't sign anything or order the dress yet, but obviously I am excited about it.
Mom and I went to three more bridal salons this afternoon, but this time I was on a mission. After Saturday I had a good idea of what I wanted, and when I walked into the stores today I meant business. I had no luck at the first two stores, but I was super excited for the third store, because they carried some of the designers whose pictures I had ripped out of magazines.
I went through the third boutique and pulled several dresses, which was a good sign considering I only pulled three dresses at the previous store. But when I tried on this dress and saw it in the mirror I knew it was The Dress. I just kept turning and looking in the mirror. The consultant told my Mom that it was a good sign that I didn't want to get out of the dress.
Oh and that surprise I told you about earlier... I am going to wear My Mom's veil! Even though she says its yellowed and kind of didn't want me to wear it because she thought it just looked old. My Mom's veil looks great with this dress.
I didn't sign anything or order the dress yet, but obviously I am excited about it.
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