Aughhh! The Guest List

A guest list! It is seriously a dread for me and my fiance.  We've tried cutting people out, we really have, but then we put them back on.  We have big families.  There is no way around it.  I don't know how to cut our list.  A small wedding sounds so beautiful. I imagine it being so beautiful. I just don't know how to get it to be small.  

To begin with I have a Mexican family.  Enough said, right.  Mexicans have big families. Hanam's family is Vietnamese.  In this way, Mexicans and Vietnamese are very much alike.  We have big families.  To give you an idea. My dad has 9 siblings. Hanam's dad has 12 siblings. And they have kids, and some of those kids have kids.

So what do we do? As of right now, we're expanding our guest list.  We might end up with a guest list of 200 instead of 150.  I know, I know. It seems like a lot to me too, but what can we do.  At least the dance floor will be packed!

How to save the date?

I can't believe that I've reached the point in my planning where it's time to plan for Save the Dates! Save the dates usually go out about 9 months before the wedding and end of October will be about 9 months for me.  So I have to start thinking about what we want now because if I'm going to DIY (do-it-yourself) then I'm going to need some time to make them.  I am trying to think of what I'd like.

Maybe something simple like a calendar.

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This save the date is really cute.  I like the idea of the tickets.  Does it seem personal enough though? I just keep thinking that a save the date should have our picture.  

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This save the date is a little more elaborate, but it has a picture.  Cute idea, huh, stringing the date? 

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I like this one too.  Again, it has pictures.  I am not sure that we'd want to put childhood pics though.  Maybe just a picture of us together. It's a little simpler than the one above.  Picture and a string wrapped around.


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These save the dates are going to be my first wedding DIY project but I hope it won't be too hard.  I will make sure to post what I end up doing?

Chair Signage

Is it funny to put a sign on the chair where the bride and groom are going to sit? Probably. I mean, no one is going to see a table for two and think, "Oh, let's go sit there." Right?! Regardless, I still want a sign for my chair. After I saw this picture, the idea never left me.

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I think these signs will look great outside and add a small touch of elegance.  Now, all I need to decide is do I want them to say "bride" and "groom" or "Mr." and "Mrs.".  This will be one of my first DIY projects.  I will let you know it goes.  

What do you think, bride and groom or Mr. and Mrs.?

My man is stylish!

One of the first things I was attracted to about my fiance, Hanam, was his style of dressing. He has good fashion sense and likes to wear nice clothes.  So, when I mentioned that I thought it'd be cool if the groomsmen wore suits instead of tuxes, he objected adamantly.  He said that he always envisioned his guys in a tux.  He also said that a simple tie and black socks would be just fine. Now just to clarify, I don't have anything against a tux but the feel that I am trying to convey for our wedding is more of a "casual elegance" and therefore, I thought tuxes would be too much.  After a slightly heated conversation, we decided he'd be in charge of what they guys wear, and I would be in charge of the girls.

Imagine my surprise, when he sent me these pictures as ideas that he likes.

It's guys in suits!!! I asked him why he changed his mind and these are his exact words, "If it makes you happy for us to wear suits, then we'll wear suits.  No big deal."  Isn't he wonderful. 

The next two are of groomsmen showing off their argyle socks.  I am not sure if we'll get argyle socks but they do make for cool pictures.

And of course, the Converse shot.  My Sweetie does like his Converse.  He has them in black, brown, red, and I know he wants to get them in green.  Is this the style we're going for? Not really, but I'd be willing to compromise.  Maybe the guys throw them on during the reception or something.

What do you girls think? Should the guys wear a tux or a suit? 

"Berry" Beautiful

One of my favorite wedding websites is Style Me Pretty. Look at the beautiful picture they posted yesterday! Does this scream berry colors or what?! The vibrant colors feel warm and inviting. I like the romantic candle lighting too. It looks simple and effortless.
This tablescape is my new inspiriation. 


Here is the whole inspiration board.

(Click to enlarge the board.)

This one actually includes berries in the pictures.  I think it's a good idea to incorporate berries somehow.  I'm going to have to think about it for awhile.

"Berry Chic" Inspiration Board #1

So, in case you haven't found out. I chose my colors! I picked berry colors!!! 
Here is my first inspiration board that I made on Style Circle by Style Me Pretty. Hope you like it.

(I think if you click on it, you'll see a bigger version of it.)

I am always drawn to purple.  My wedding is a spin on the purple - "berry" colors.  Think blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry.  Is plum a berry? No? Well, then I'll make up my own.  Plumberry! Add plumberry to the mix.  Since our venue is a ranch/winery, I am want to create a Casual Elegance with a touch of Rustic feel.  The colors will look great in the summer and I think they'll really pop with the greens and the browns of the ranch.

Wedding Dresses

I am not ready to go buy a dress but I am ready to start looking though.  I might be going soon to a bridal salon just to have an idea of what is out there.  My first outing will probably just be my Mom and I.  Once I am ready to take this more seriously and buy something I will invite my Mom and one or two of my bridesmaids.  In the meantime, here are some pics of dresses that I am liking.

I've thought about what I'm looking for and I want something with a v neck (not to low, though), low back, and thin straps. 

This one is my absolute favorite, but the v is a little too low for me. I like the ribbon around the waist too. Although, I don't know that I would like that when I try it on.

This one is kind of a mermaid type dress.  Very elegant.

You can see the back on this one.  Can you picture this dress outside, by the trees or in the vineyard?

Although this one is strapless, I love how the lace peaks through on the top.   I am not completely against strapless, but I don't normally like how strapless dresses look on me.  The dress would really need to "wow" me in order for me to choose a strapless as my wedding dress.

Can you tell I like lace?  I think I am drawn to dresses with lace.  When I go try on dresses, I want to see if that is the case.  I want to try on some dresses with lace and some without to have an idea of what I like.

Oh yeah, by the way all these dresses are by the designer, Jim Hjelm.  This is not a coincidence.  I really like his dresses.  I have tried looking at other dresses but I am just not drawn to them.