nightmare

[image via alyssa giannini's flickr]

i had a nightmare last night and i'm still feeling very anxious about it.

it was our wedding day. everyone was there. but there was no food. cake. photographer. nothing. and randomly i was in a black dress. this is a sign that i have not been productive AT ALL with our wedding planning. as of last friday, we are exactly 6 months away from our wedding! save the dates haven't even been sent! gasp.

this weekend it's time to get serious.

i have been failing at finding a healthy balance.

how do you find time to balance work, relationships, sleep, and work?

cars and guitars

the boy and i have already started working on the house and it feels so great. we have a LONG way to go and i couldn't be more thankful that we have a month to fix it up before we have to move and our current lease runs out. owning a house is definitely a labor of love and i can't wait to show you all the before and after pictures!

we only have one other tiny part of the save the dates to make and those will be able to be sent out! that reminds me, i need to start getting together all of the addresses!

i also need to start working on the birdcage veil. i have all of the materials, but i just need someone to let me use them as a model to make it. jason might have to step up to the plate on this one - which would be so funny [i may have to take a picture while he isn't looking]!

hayley and tyson's wedding below is totally motivating me to get started on the birdcage veil. the bride looks so cute in her veil! so classy and fun! i love the flowers and setting for their wedding. i should also mention that i love the picture of hayley and her dad! his beard is amazing!







[all images via hayleyandtyson's flickr page and veronica olson photography]

first

so as of yesterday at 3:00 pm EST, jason and i officially became homeowners!!! this is our new house!

for this past week i have been so busy trying to make sure everything was in order to close on time for our house and i couldn't feel happier. j and i have worked so hard and now we will have a home to call our own. we can't wait to paint, garden, sew curtains, and just give our new house [gosh that feels so weird to say!] some personal touches. we know it's going to take some work, but we're ready! i will definitely share pictures of the rest of the house soon and keep you guys posted on the design and upgrades! if you have any advice or suggestions, please send them our way!

although we've got some work to do, i really need to kick it into wedding planning mode. i know i keep saying this, but i'm really trying to get myself motivated. jason and i worked on the design for the save-the-dates today and i can't wait to get them done so that i can share! i hope you guys will like it!

i think my biggest hiccup is the catering. we have the venue and if only the catering was decided on, i think i'd feel more at ease about the planning. the first catering proposal we got has EVERYTHING included but it also includes the hefty price tag (even considering the vegetarian menu). although i couldn't bear to pay the proposed amount, it sure would be easy to have the catering company handle all rentals and everything in between. i know i kept telling my dad that i could handle it all, but somedays i feel like having some intervention could really lessen the stress.

with a guestlist of 150, what would you suggest as the cheapest catering option? jason keeps suggesting that we ask family to help with cooking for the wedding, but i don't want to instill the stress or responsibility of feeding 150 people on our family.

hmm...maybe pizza could work? it looks awesome at the wedding below and the guests don't seem to have a problem with it! any thoughts?

in the meantime, enjoy this amazing portland wedding!



[all wedding images via evrim gallery]

"we shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started...and know the place for the first time" - t.s. eliot

freebies

it is amazing how many awesome designers out there who are creating great stationary and then sharing them with the online community for free! check out some of my favorites!


[card via how about orange]


[program insert via martha stewart ]


[save the date via iDiy ]

p.s. do you notice a theme? what themes are you most drawn to while planning for your own wedding?

save the date!

so i've set a goal for myself to complete the save the dates this month! this thankfully means somewhat finalizing the guest list. i have had a few ideas, but i think we've finally got the endless ideas narrowed down!

the inspiration for the save the dates are:


i should note that our postcards and envelopes will be much more colorful! i am super excited to play around with these! i will definitely make sure to share once i am finished! the front of these will have to be a surprise. actually, the envelope idea may just roll over into the guestbook, but i'm torn because i sure do like the blurb concept too.


time just doesn't seem to be on my side lately. i have so many budget-friendly diy ideas, but making myself sit down and do them has proved to be harder than the crafts themselves! i know that once they are done, i will be able to sleep better at night which is a good enough motivator in itself. in the meantime, any suggestions on how to stay focused and motivated to get all of these necessary wedding things done?

side note - today i am finally back on track with getting in shape before the wedding - the holidays definitely took their toll this year and i am ready to get healthy. i have to remember that no one can achieve my goals for me and that if i don't make it happen, then no one will. this 64 degree weather in atlanta in january (!!!) definitely doesn't hurt the motivation to get outside and get moving!

[images via marthastewartweddings.com]