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Because I’m a closet gamer… and it’s too cute
So, I like to think of myself as a creative chick. I like doing arts and crafts and that sort of deal. BUT, I also really want a high-end look for our wedding. A lot of friends have gotten married in recent years and I don’t want our wedding to just blend in with theirs. Knowing that we would have a limited budget (I’m in grad school, and Mr. Ramen just finished school…), I thought to myself, ‘OH! Paper lanterns and tons of candles should be very simple, chic, and inexpensive!’
Unfortunately, this crazy girl and her wonderful man had fallen deeply and madly in love with art galleries. Art galleries + open flames = BAD IDEA! Not to mention, it’s simply not allowed. So we decided to scratch the candle idea and hold our wedding at our dream venue, PAM (The Phoenix Art Museum!) instead. We told ourselves that with all of the art and beautiful architecture, we could get away with minimal centerpieces.
The paper lanterns we wanted to string across the ceiling were nixed (nothing can be hung up on the walls or ceilings!), and when we visited PAM again, we saw that the Cummings Great Hall, where our reception would be held, had VERY minimal color on the walls. We then realized we needed to come up with modern, affordable, and super luxe-looking centerpieces. Luxe, because that’s how we roll, and cheap, because we po’! We debated uplighting/lighting to spice things up, but figured we’d rather splurge on centerpieces instead.
So I began the long and tedious process of trying to find a florist that we really liked and felt could carry out our requests for flowers/centerpieces. It was crazy to me to find out that the average centerpiece price would cost us $30-75, and we weren’t even interested in massive flower arrangements. I really wanted to avoid going the DIY route, not because I didn’t think I could do it, but because I didn’t want to add extra stress on or around the wedding day. But things don’t always go the way that we’ve planned…
Did your wedding plans seem to change frequently?
Yes, I’ve had 5 different outlines for different locations for our wedding. It keeps changing. We think we like something or that it will all stay within our budget - we keep working and realize it’s not - scrap the whole thing and start over in a new direction. I think our families are getting annoyed. HA!
Good grief- it seems they change hourly! Especially in the beginning. We’ve gone through 3 major color changes, and countless invitation/std/centerpiece ideas. It’s crazy! btw LOL at “because we po’!”
OMG yes! We changed our minds several times, but that’s ok, we’ve had a LONG engagment (18+ months). We’re about a year out now and the plans are firming up quite and bit and I’m pleased with them.
Maybe you could try some battery-operated candles in colored hurricanes - I’ve seen Martha make some awesome hurricane covers out of paper and a little glue!
Oh, the plans are ever-evolving, but isn’t that half the fun. Since you’re at an art gallery, get some cheap frames and put some interesting (well cropped) images of you two or places that are important to you in them and the find some ’sculptural’ objects to fill out the tables. Cuz flowers are kinda pricey.
can’t wait to see what you come up with! An art museum is such a chic place for a wedding reception!
Only every other minute. I can’t wait to see what you come up with! 
When did Samus get so sexy? I must have missed that?
Anyway, can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Are you renting linens? Bold or patterned linens could add all the color you need, and would reduce the need for elaborate centerpieces. Then you could go with simple, modern centerpieces…
I am so glad to hear this! Our is ever changing but I am tired of it changing and I am ready for it just to be here and over!
I love that you picked the art museum! So classy and fun!
I just googled the Art Museum - and W.O.W! That is an amazing venue! For our centerpieces, we chose tall glass vases filled with lemons and limes for a cheap punch of color! Just an idea, although it was very simple…
That would be a big fat yes! And “frequently” would be an understatement
I’m a little over a month out and I’m still changing my mind about things!!!!
as i’m not officially planning, yes, they change everytime the wind blows. or whenever i stumbled up a new blog post somewhere. lol. but i’ve noticed that only smaller details have been changing so hopefully we’re whittling things down to the basics of what we really want!
yes, centerpieces are so pricey. i wanted a SIMPLE flowers in a vase type of deal for half of my tables. That alone was $60! NOT INCLUDING THE VASE! My tall centerpieces using an eiffel tower vase were about $100 each without the vase 
oh, god. our centerpieces change daily. DAILY. and the wedding isnt til June…
I have changed my mind lots of times. First I wanted a really modern looking wedding. Lots of squares and geometric shapes. Then I wanted to go with orange and navy blue…and it ended up looking way too denver broncos. I finally came up with a great theme with my future little sister-in-law. Romantic vintage and with lots of spring butterflies, birds, hummingbirds and flowers…i love it
oh! I heart you we have changed our mind or forced to changed in so many “wedding related” items! I cant wait to see what you end up using! - Btw, your venue sounds amazing!
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Mrs. Ramen, Phoenix Age and Occupation: 26, Optometry Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Industrial Designer Engagement Date: January 3, 2009 Wedding Date: December 19, 2009 Venue: Phoenix Art Museum About Me: I'm an SF-born, Seattle-raised girl, transplanted to Phoenix where I'll be getting married, and planning all the way from Orange County where I go to school (yes, it feels as crazy as it sounds). I loooooove Yogurtland, am slightly very obsessed with all things paper, am heavily addicted to wedding blogs, deeply desire a puppy, thoroughly enjoy cooking, cry when I watch (almost all) movies, thrive on solo car-karaoke, can't stop being sarcastic, am neurotic about taking pictures of almost everything I eat before I eat it, and aspire to travel the world. My super-talented fiance and I are attempting to DIY a majority of our massive (~350 guests) "clean & modern, yet romantic, but completely unexpected, with a teeny dash of vintage" wedding, stay within our not-so-massive budget, and somehow get a really luxe (but still fun!) look/feel at the same time. In music terms (since we're both really into music) think Coldplay meets Motown meets Kanye meets Sinatra.
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