Invites are started!!

On Saturday, Joe and I went to the Paper Depot and started our invitations. We wanted to DIY them and from the countless number of friends who have recently tied the knot it was recommended as the must go to shop! We walked in not knowing where to begin and were quickly approached by the staff who offered to help. I think our "deer in the headlights" look gave it away. 

Step 1: Browse through their numerous examples of invitation styles and layouts.

You have pocket style, flaps that fold out, crazy cut out corners and everything in between. Joe and I decided to stick to our unfancy ways and have it a little more simple. 

Step 2: Choose your paper.

What they don't tell you is that you'll be browsing hundreds of colors and textures. We spent a good half hour (or more, I lost track) finding the right Navy Blue and Yellow, thickness of the paper and texture. 

Step 3: Grab a number. 

We walked in around lunch time so the designers were all on their lunch break. Although this gave us time to find what we wanted, we, more like I had more time to second guess myself on our choices. I only changed our decision once!

Step 4: They call your number.

A staff member helps you create your invite by putting together a mock trial for you, helping you figure out standard postcard sizes for the RSVP's and gives you all your measurements so you can cut all the paper at home. They even get all the numbers together for you so you know exactly how much paper you will need, how much glue adhesive, and whatever else to make them at home. 

Step 5: Buy all your invite fixings.

Our total price per invite: $0.95!!!

We ordered 175 invites, just to be on the safe side, and the total price came way below what we originally anticipated. Double yes:)

Step 6: Add them to your wedding pile until you find someone to help design and print them off for you.

So here we are. All the paper is sitting on our kitchen table right now and we're on the hunt for the right printig place to help us start the next process of getting these invites looking snazzy. Once we have the writing on the actual paper, these are going to look great!

Step 7: Have family help you put the invites together.

This should be a good time!

Alterations, Invites, I have a 'blog' follower!

Last night I started the process of dress alterations. I put the dress on and the ladies went to work pinning me here and there making sure the fit would be just right. Before I left, she gave me the total of what it was going to cost and I was completely shocked. $400 shocked! I walked out of there, leaving my dress behind because I apparently have a hard time saying no to people when they just spent 45 minutes pinning me up. After sleeping on it, I decided I'm going to go back and pick up my dress. I talked with her on the phone and she lowered the price a little, but not enough to make me stay there. I know she would have done an amazing job (I have two recommendations for her) but $400 is barely under what I paid for the dress itself. Ugh. Back to finding a seamstress.

On a better note, Joe and I are headed to the Paper Depot tomorrow to start thinking invites! I've heard from all of my friends who have made their own invitations that this is the place to go - so we're going! Here are a few favorites that I've seen...



Love how it looks like bark from a tree!



I like the how the print of the names goes off the paper...



I'm a sucker for bunting banners like this!



Top Right Corner: The yellow ribbon and yellow "&" sign!!



Same burlap string that I would use on the mason jars from a few posts ago

In other news, I have my first blog follower!! Let me introduce to you my good friend from college, Lindsey! 

Lindsey is currently out east going to Med School...she's going to be a fabulous doctor by the way! She's so lovely, funny and has such an amazing heart! I wish I could still see her every weekend! Hope to see you soon my dear! You can see more of her here Lindsey's Blog!

Now off to the weekend...er, after 5:30 I mean:) 

A nip here, a tuck there...

And no I'm not talking about the show on E!: Bridalplasty. Have you heard about this show? On their website they write, "Brides-to-be compete in challenges to earn plastic-surgery procedures in a quest to win their ultimate wedding dream." Where's the "are you freakin' serious" button? Wait, found it. Got lost back in the insanity room down the hall.

Thankfully plastic surgery is not what this post is about!

I start my bridal gown alterations tonight!!!

 I think I'm just excited to try on my dress again. It's been awhile. :)

After work I'm meeting with my seamstress to make sure the hem is just right and the bussel is in place so I can dance the night away. Can't wait to get this process started!!

Yep. I'm a slacker.

Is it really already Wednesday? I seem to be losing track of time throughout the day (oh how I love Physiology) which means I'm forgetting about my blogging duties. I sincerely apologize for my lack of effort and trust that you haven't given up on me yet. Unfortunately I don't even have any fun, exciting wedding plans to share other than our suit hunt is officially on since we have all they guys' measurements!

This picture, however, is making me crave summer. And I love this inspiration from this picture for the mason jars that will be on our tables. I'm going back and forth between the twine around the neck of the jar. To twine or not? I think it adds a little someting but then again, is it really necessary? Will only I notice the twine around the jar? We are officially under the six month mark so decisions have to be made and started.

I think I'm more excited for the Honeymoon. Don't get me wrong. I'm just as excited to experience the amazingness of our wedding day but let's face it...Honeymoons rock! (Or so I'm told.) No school, it's summer and just me and my husband off on another adventure. Sounds perfect.

Whole lot of Goodness...

There is A LOT going on right now wedding wise/life wise so let me get to sharing...

1. The biggest thing that is happening RIGHT NOW is that it's my Mom's birthday!

Here's the birthday girl! She is the greatest, most amazing mom ever and I wish I could be celebrating in person with her this year! Although I'm over a hundred miles away, I am definitely celebrating in spirit! Just wait till she gets my call later and I burst out in "Happy Birthday to You"! Love you Mom!!

2. Andrea & Mel are getting fitted for their bridesmaid dresses today which means the order will be sent off for production! Can't wait for these ladies to get their dresses. Everyone is going to look so beautiful:)

3. I'm getting a new windshield tomorrow morning. Long story short, Joe bought me remote car starter for Christmas (just in time too...the high today is -4 with a windchill of -16) and when it was installed last Sunday, they cracked my windshield. Thankfully, they are paying for the replacement one and my car will be back to good in less than 24 hours!

4. Last night was the first time this week Joe and I were able to have dinner together, laugh and catch up on the week because of our new school schedules. It was so much fun and I was wide awake until 11:30 because I was having so much fun hanging out with him. Ahh the simple things in life.

5. While Joe and I were hanging out, we were going through possible songs for our ceremony because we may have found our musician!! He's a friend of my good friend Megan and he's on board with our song choices so far. Whoo - what a relief! We have to fine tune our selection just a bit so that will be one wedding project for the weekend.

6. On Sunday, it will be exactly SIX MONTHS until the wedding! The crazy/chaos/fun/exciting mess of wedding planning is about to begin. Hold on kiddos.

7. Lastly, it's Friday. Enough said.

So as you can see there is a lot of goodness all around. Life is pretty good right now:)

Oh, and Happy Birthday Mom!!!

It's already starting...

Joe and I are back at it with class and all that comes with it...reading, quizzes, exams. This is my second week of school, today is Joe's second day of class and I can already tell this semester is going to be a little exhausting. Poor Joe, he gets up at 6:30am, heads off to work for the day and then goes straight to class from 5:45-9:05pm. I have class Monday nights until 9:30pm and then Joe has class Tuesday & Wednesdays leaving us with four days to actually have conversations other than "Good Night, Love You." But learning is fun right?!

I officially applied to the Nursing program at my school today and I'll find out my future at the end of April! No sense in worrying about it either because if I get in, I get in, if not I'll be put on the waiting list. My worst case scenario would be having to reapply a year from now and try it again until I get in. Prayers are welcomed by all:)

Joe and I might be doing wedding related stuff this weekend or might be studying but either way I'll keep you posted. I found this picture yesterday (top right hand corner and hard to see) with birch logs behind the table. I love this! Maybe behind our gift table?

Gray suits, where are you?!

Do you know how hard it is to find a light, gray suit? I suppose if you've never had to find one than you wouldn't know but I'll fill you in...it's harder than you think. Joe and I are in the process of getting everyone's measurements so when we find "the one" we can order them all at once.

Yep, this is what we're looking for and we're coming up with not so many options. And of course, darker grays are super easy to find. Just my luck. I think the lighter gray will make the dark navy dresses pop a little more than having the colors be similar. So the hunt continues...