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After we rehearsed, it was time to start getting pretty! The staff at IslandWood very graciously let us use one of the rooms back in their office so that we could be close to the Great Hall. This was perfect for me so that I could spend time with my girls as we got our hair and makeup done, but still peek in on the set up in the Great Hall.
Prior to the wedding I thought briefly about doing my own makeup. However, my bridesmaids surprised me a few months before the wedding and gifted me my hair and makeup. It ended up making the day much less stressful for me not to worry about my makeup, and they did a fantastic job! Bridesmaid K has worked in the salon industry in Seattle and has some very good friends that were willing to give us a great deal for hair and makeup for myself, my bridesmaids and Mr. EB’s sister (who was his groomswoman).
It WORKED!! After my post on my floral inspiration, the florist sent me a quote. (Dear Blogland, I would like one million dollars. Just throwing it out there.) And the best part is the quote is a number Mr. Cucumber Sammie and I are thrilled with. I am about to start playing the lottery soon because it is coming up all aces for Miss Cuke Sammie. The magical florist is still about $500 more than the other two, but would I pay $500 for peace of mind about our centerpieces being gorgeous!?! You betcha.
Starting the florist search seemed rather daunting. For some reason I was completely overwhelmed by the number of options. I searched many sites including TheKnot, WeddingWire, and even the hive’s vendor reviews. Every search left me more and more confused. Finally I went back to the basics and started with the venue-provided vendor list. Congress Hall had about 10 vendors listed for florist. For whatever reason, in the beginning I was hesitant about contacting them. I think a part of me thought I could get a better deal by going with someone not on that list. I know how ridiculous that sounds. I mean, they are on the preferred-vendor list for a reason.
I looked over each florist’s website and made a list of my top five. I ruled out anyone coming from Philadelphia because even though it is only two-and-a-half hours away, I figured they would probably charge a pretty steep delivery fee. I contacted my first choice on the list…and she was already booked for our wedding weekend. What?!? Commence bridal tailspin. After 15 minutes of freaking out, I called all the rest of the florists and set up appointments for the following weekend. Then I called Mr. Cucumber Sammie and told him to clear his schedule because we are road tripping it to Cape May. In hindsight I probably should have called Mr. Cucumber Sammie first. Oh well.
First up on the short list of three appointments was Manic Botanic. Manic Botanic was my early favorite based solely on their website. Tons of amazing floral-inspiration pictures and real weddings from our venue! Even their adorable storefront did not disappoint.
When I left off, we were seriously considering Greece for our honeymoon (Ponymoon? Too much?). We bought a book, researched prices, and I started dreaming about all the online shipping I was going to do for new outfits (OK, I still do that).
And then Mr. Pony got offered a job. And Greece had to be put on hold while we worked through what Mr. Pony’s new job would mean for our wedding and honeymoon plans.
Greece is waiting for us with open chairs. Photo via How2Vacation
One night before Mr. Pony moved we started discussing our honeymoon options. Although he hadn’t talked to his employer yet about the situation, we were pretty certain he wouldn’t get more than a week of vacation considering he will only be working for this company for three months at the time of our wedding. We knew Greece couldn’t be done in a week (or four days once you factor in flights and travel time). Even if Mr. Pony was allowed more time off, we were both resistant to him taking two+ weeks off after only working for a few months so that we could gallivant around Greece.
I admit, this was not an easy or fun realization for me to come to.
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Once the guests were seated it was time to start our bridal processional.
My cousin Jason escorting Mama E
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All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
“Make an elegant invitation statement without the fuss. Stylish invitation sets with matching envelopes, reception and response cards included.”
And what they’ll be wearing for the occasion.
In my head, I wanted Mac and the rest of the groomsmen to stand out. Not only are black suits too harsh for the soft and romantic look we’re trying to achieve, but I’m fairly certain it’s what more than a few of our male guests will opt to wear. (We don’t know many brown or navy blue suit kinda people.) A gray suit or tux was the clear winner. What’s not to love?
Photo by EE Photography
Just a few short minutes after our non-first look, the time had come! We were getting married NOW!
Pastor Jason came to pray with the women, then went to the groom’s area to pray with them.
The girls and I got lined up for the processional around the corner. The guys were all going to walk to the altar together with Pastor Jason, but my bridesmaids would walk right before me.
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Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
I consider myself to be a pretty well-seasoned wedding attender. I would say that I have been to about 10 or 11 in my lifetime. Of these weddings I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of music at a wedding. I have attended weddings where the DJ was so awful at picking music that no one touched the dance floor after the bridal party dances, and instead everyone opted to sit at their tables and drink themselves into a stupor (which is really sad considering that even the drunk guests were staying away from the floor). There have also been receptions where the DJ totally brought the house down. There were people busting moves that I didn’t even know existed.
This isn’t me at a wedding, but an example of how I like to get down to a good DJ. (personal photo)
JBelle7757 and her husband had a cake topper modeled after themselvesthat represented their respective hometown sports teams.
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This past weekend I took a drive down to Columbus with my mom and Cherry Bomb. My grandma had requested a weekend to work on THE dress, and I was happy to oblige. After a long drive that Cherry Bomb very loudly did not enjoy the last half hour of, we arrived at Grandma’s a bit late to get any work done on Friday. So, we talked a bit, I tried on a top she had made with her pattern adjustments (it fit!), and we went to sleep so we could get an early start on Saturday.
Saturday morning we ate some breakfast and Grandma started cutting and sewing. I worked on paper flowers for the wedding while Cherry Bomb ran around playing with blocks, yelling, and otherwise being a toddler. It was around that time that my mom revealed her big secret- she’s been crocheting a shawl for me to wear at the reception! It’s really pretty, and the color she picked is a pretty perfect match with my crinoline. Mom worked on her crochet and I worked on flowers, stopping only when Cherry Bomb needed a playmate or a diaper change until lunch. I tried things on for Grandma whenever she requested, and she asked me what I thought each time. She made adjustments from there and then hid out with her sewing machine some more.
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For 90% of the decisions we’ve made around the wedding, we made them quick and dirty and didn’t look back. This includes everything from my dress to most of our vendors. It excludes our color scheme, which changed twice, and most of our decor. It also excludes our music.
Our DJ himself wasn’t a tough decision—he DJ’ed Bridesmaid Preggo’s wedding a few years ago, at the same venue we’re at, and had a great price. He can do everything we need him to do, and she’s vouched for him. And seeing as how she’s one of my bridesmaids, I totally believe in her vouching.
But then it came time to actually select songs. And wow—there are a lot of songs to select.
So after changing my mind about a bajillion times and giving Mr. Ladyfingers the pleasure of such conversation topics as “I really want a song both the bridal party and I can walk down to, but will that be weird? Will people know I’m coming? Do you think it’s weird for me to come out to the same song?…Hello? Are you awake?” Here is what we’ve settled on (for now).
Processional (bridal party)
I, like so many others, have fallen head over heels in love with Vitamin String Quartet. They do all my favorite songs and make them oh so pretty! We’re not really a “Canon in D” and “Here Comes the Bride” kinda couple, tending more toward the Journey “Don’t Stop Believing” string-quartet stuff.
The only problem was, which to choose? And then I found this:
Video via YouTube
After the shower, we did a quick wardrobe change and we were on our way to Pittsburgh for my bachelorette party. I’m not going to fib—I had some mixed emotions going into this evening. I don’t go out very often, and when I do, I’d much prefer a cocktail and good conversation than a crazy techno beat and a mosh pit of sweaty limbs. I was kind of anxious to see how all of my different worlds colliding would work out—my bachelorette party guest list had a good mix of family, high school friends, and college friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen in a hefty handful of months. How would everyone get along? Would I be pushed way out of my comfort zone in the name of bachelorette-ing? Would my embarrassingly low alcohol tolerance level get the best of me? See?! All of these concerns made me eager to see the night come and go, hoping for the best, I suppose.
I am proud to report that the night was completely amazing. We started with a little celebratory bubbly in the hotel room and my guests bestowed the requisite bachelorette party apparel upon me—sash, genitalia necklace, and tiara with veil.
I’m usually not one to have my outfit and accessories thrust me into the center of attention in each and every room I enter, but I figured you only get to bachelorette once, so genitalia jewelry it is!
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I am not one of those women who is great at doing their own hair. You know Joan Holloway on Mad Men who always arrives with perfect locks? I’m constantly questioning the show’s plausibility for a working woman in the 1960s being able to do her own hair in this quality every day. It’s just too good.
(Joan Holloway from Mad Men, image via Mendem)
While I don’t have a team of stylists putting together my hair for every scene like Joan/Christina Hendricks does, I’m still hoping I can scrounge up some nice tresses for the big day. I would really like if someone else could just make my hair look amaaazing. (By snapping their fingers or something convenient like that.)
But as I’m in Switzerland at the moment, it makes it a bit difficult to search for local hair dressers in Columbus, Ohio.
It was finally time to slip into my dress. I had a brief moment of how am I supposed to shimmy this thing on without everyone seeing my lovely lady lumps. Sara Zarrella informed me that I would be in the room alone to pull the dress up. When I was ready she’d call in the reinforcements to raise the zipper and fasten the buttons. I was grateful for my few moments alone to gather my thoughts on what I was preparing to do. I had waited my entire life to slip on a gown as beautiful as Adeline. What can I say? I’m a true girly-girl!
My paparazzi gathered around to watch me ready myself when I was half dressed. My mother was anxiously awaiting her moment to help me.
Mr. Cucumber Sammie and I made a quick trip to Cape May the other weekend to interview florists. I can’t wait to share the trip with you, but first I am waiting on my last quote. Two of the florists were good, but one was ah-mazing. Of course that is the one who hasn’t sent me a quote yet. It has been almost three weeks, so I finally broke down and called. I really didn’t want to be “that” bride, but I am starting to get a little nervous they would never get back to me. The florist said they were working on it and would send it today. I still haven’t gotten it yet, but my hopes are not yet crushed.
I am going to share my floral inspiration to hopefully send some good karma in the air and get them to send the quote. In my mind the minute I finish writing this post I will have an email from the florist. Yup, that is totally how it is going to work.
Image and design by Manic Botanic
After the bouquet and garter were appropriately tossed and more dancing and debauchery were had, the night began to wind down. Certain groomsmen also went missing towards the end of the evening…
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