Skipping through polka dots and daisies...

Today I checked off yet another major wedding task. I'm more than proud of my progress at the moment, as wedding planning hasn't been super convenient what with the Christmas and New Years hubabaloo and working overtime hours at the office.

But I guess I can't take all the credit.

Let me just tell you, creating our wedding announcements has been the most enjoyable, pleasant wedding-planning experience we've had as of yet. However, things weren't always looking so good. I was very distraught actually, frustrated that I couldn't find an invitation that portrayed our own personalities with a touch of creativity and flavor. They're all the same, it seemed. Each paper company I found printed the same old card with the same old layout and the same old pictures. Seriously. They. All. Look. The. Same. Ugh.

So as I perused site after boring website I became even more discouraged with my search. I began considering custom designs, which is of course an extra cost, extra time and therefore an extra burden, but I felt it my only choice to get a unique announcement that I am completely satisfied with.

That is until I stumbled through Polka Dots and Daisies. And yes it was as lovely as it sounds.

A modest company located in Bountiful and Lehi, Utah, Polka Dots and Daisies was more than pleasant to work with. Their website showed a number of beautiful invites that I admired, but the designs I loved (such as the picture above) were not in my budget. But I set up an appointment anyways, more out of desperation than anything else.

And boy am I glad I did.

I had a dress fitting in SLC the same day, so stopping in Bountiful for a quick appointment was quite convenient. It was a quaint little place, looking more like an elegant two-story home than a business. Rechecking the address, we headed up the steps and up a grand staircase to the happy office on the top floor.

Mollie greeted us with smiles- a pregnant 20-something girl with wonderful people skills and a listening ear. Let me tell you, I am SO grateful to find people in the wedding industry who actually listen to what I want! Mollie took notes of important factors such as when I need my invites completed, what colors I'd like to use, what paper I like, how many pictures I want, etc. Then we went to work.

We went through a stack of samples, pretty ones, but not the one. Then we went through a second stack, pulling out favorites here and there to take note from. Then I found it. A little square invitation peeked out from behind the others. And it was perfect.

• It was a tri-fold- perfect because they aren't overdone.

• It used eight engagement pictures- perfect because we have an excellent photographer that I am more than happy to show off.

• It features a quote in one corner- perfect because I have collected quotes for years.

• It was square- perfect because square envelopes are just too darn cute.

• It was linen paper- perfect because I love the feel of it beneath my fingers. *Macaroni Grill uses linen menus. Believe me I know, I rub the menu all through dinner.

For once I was able to say with certainty, "That's it! That's the one!" If only I could be that certain with everything wedding related. How easy life would be.

Beaming with excitement we began to plot the layout, picking fonts, motifs, etc. Our announcements were in the works, and it was the first invitation vendor I'd met with! (Thank goodness I didn't have to go though 11 like I did with dress shops)

To celebrate our wedding progress, The Captain and I stopped at Salt City Burger Co. afterwards. Apparently our luck continued because we were surprised with a buy one get one special when we received the bill. (If you ever get the chance to try Salt City, do. It was one of the best burgers I've had) Let me just take this moment to say I am never going to be one of those starving brides. If I gain 15 pounds I gain 15 pounds. Let's just hope it goes to the right place. ;)

Anyway, from there the design of our wedding announcements was a cool summer breeze.

Mollie and I emailed ideas back and forth for a week. She sent me updated proofs and I messaged right back, changing things around here and there until today everything looked just right. Being at work, The Captain called up Mollie with my credit card information and we confirmed that the proofs were ready to print. And bam, it's done!

Well kinda. In 7 business days our lovely little invites will be ready for pick up. I can't wait to see the lovely little announcements that came together so well. What a refreshing take on wedding planning.

If only everything wedding-related was as easy as Polka Dots and Daisies. :)

Joy to the World...

It just doesn't feel like Christmas. It's been an interesting year, and I've been left wondering how it is already Christmas Eve.

But some things always remain constant.

My mom always has a beautiful tree. Each year it is different, adorned with flowers and feathers, branches and berries, but no matter what decorates its' branches each year, it is always a one-of-a-kind stunning beauty. I love this year's jewel tones.

There's something about the crinkle of paper and the glimmer of ribbon that stirs excitement in the hearts of America. Tis' the season for giving!

My mom is one of the most talented people I know. I'm grateful to spend one last Christmas at home. Although I'm not crazy about my brothers waking me at 7 a.m., there's no better way to spend the holidays than with young ones.

My mom made each of those stockings herself one year. I love them!

Christmas stories remind you what it's all about. :)

Joel made paper chains to adorn our mantle.

There's nothing like sparkling cider for New Year's Eve!

Each year Joel is responsible for the Santa Claus punch. Raspberry sherbet, vanilla ice cream and Sprite is certain to lift your spirits.

So many things to be grateful for. What a beautiful season it is to celebrate Christ's birth with those we love. Maybe tomorrow it will feel more like Christmas. ;)

Happy Holidays!

Just...breathe....

It's official. I'm a bridezilla.

I've been in bed two hours and I'm still huffing and puffing about the planning meeting I had with my reception center today. I'm so heated/stressed/frustrated that I feel ready to scream... or vomit.

Warning: For readers who are not especially fond of whiny posts, please turn back now.

I understood the 8 week notice planning meeting to be a designated time to communicate ideas and plans with the reception site. However, after 3 1/2 hours of "planning" at the meeting today I feel as if nothing was communicated, understood, or nailed down. At all.

Let's see if I can explain. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who talks in circles? One of those people who you swear just likes to hear their voice, and talks and talks and talks without allowing a word in edge wise?

Well, I walked into my 2:00 appointment today feeling pretty prepared. I have a vision- a pretty detailed vision- of how I want my big day to go. I have a plan for everything, from food to feathers to tablecloths to traffic. The problem? Rarely was I asked what I wanted. And if my opinion was asked, my decision was picked apart and questioned.

Seriously. When I explained the table setup I had in mind, she explained that I am the first bride to ever change the usual setup. When I was asked my preference on dessert, she explained that my choice of chocolate covered strawberries hardly compare to their house-made wedding cookies. When I asked about branches, she offered floating candles. When I asked about music, she showed me floating candles. When I asked about tablecloths, she suffocated me with floating candles. And just so you know, I don't want floating candles!!!!

Then there were these ridiculous conversations about labor costs, but how they pride themselves on the fact that they don't have hidden fees. Here's what happened- my mom and I decided we would spend extra money on purple tablecloths rather than the white cloths they provide. Because we'll be holding a luncheon prior to the reception, she suggested two tablecloths for each event, in case Uncle Bill's spaghetti doesn't make it to his mouth. (Jk, seriously I am not having spaghetti in a white dress) I agreed with her suggestion, and we moved on. That is until she decided that changing the tablecloths on 5 tables takes so much time that we will have to implement an additional labor cost. As if $45 for colored cloths isn't enough, we have to pay an additional amount for someone to change the purple linens, than they would have done with the white for free. Am I crazy or does that not make sense?

Apparently we'll be seeing plenty of extra charges. Since we can't bring in our own snacks for the kids after the ceremony, we'll be paying for the reception center to make pb&js. We'll be paying to take one picture off the wall if I want an engagement print hung, and we'll be paying to take the floral decorations out of the overcrowded serving area. Oh and if I hear the word "cognisant" one more time I swear I'm going to freak.

After 3 1/2 hours of this I was ready to sneak my written check right back into my pocket. For someone who assures my wedding will be just how I want it, there sure wasn't a lot of listening.

Lately I'm just feeling so sick of people disregarding my opinion. In my search for the dress, I explained a concern about a sash fastened around my midsection. Her solution? "Well honey, just stick your nose in the air and don't look at it!" My hasty reply, "Excuse me maa'm, if I'm going to pay $1000+ for your wedding dress, I sure as hell want to like looking at it!!"

(Grandma if you're reading this please disregard my language. ;)

PHEW! Okay I think I'm done venting. I apologize for the negative thoughts and feelings in this post. Believe it or not wedding planning is not all fun and games, and lately I am definitely becoming friends with the unpleasant moments a wedding has to offer.

In these moments, I just need to brush up on those two semesters of yoga, reavaluate my relationship with f'real milkshakes, and crack open my laptop.

Has anyone felt like a Bridezilla when it came to wedding planning? Were you completely frazzled? How did you handle the unavoidable amount of stress?

I SAID YES TO THE DRESS!

No this is not the dress. But it's a Maggie similar to mine!

Exactly two months before my wedding date, I found the dress.

Call me crazy, but I found it funny that my wedding is 02/11/2011 at 11 a.m., and I found my dress at the 11th shop on the 11th of December. Who votes 11 my new lucky number?

Saturday morning I was up at 7 a.m. to prepare for the biggest dress sale of the year at Alta Moda, a fancy little dress shop near Trolley Square. Once a year they hold a sample sale where dresses of designers Vera Wang, Monique Lhuiller, Priscilla of Boston and more are sold for a fraction of their original cost- 60-80% off.

Yeah, it's pretty intense. I call it Black Friday- wedding style.

They open the doors at 10:00 a.m. and give you exactly 40 minutes in the dressing room with only four dresses at a time. Being first come first serve and holding only a limited amount of dresses, I guess it's no surprise that a line had already formed when my mom and I arrived at 9:00. But we got in line anyway, cuddling under blankets and nursing our mugs of hot chocolate.

I was desperate. And I mean desperate. How depressing it is to find dress after dress disappointing. I was certain I was too picky, and I was lining up backups, in case the one was simply not in my future. With a single month before my scheduled bridals, the stress was taking over.

When the doors finally opened, we entered the shop one by one. With only 7 dressing rooms, you are helped in the order you arrived, and I was the 9th bride. As we waited for our turn, the anxiety heightened like a pressure cooker. The first three girls to finish purchased dresses- and let me tell you, every one was DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS. I have never seen such amazing, unique gowns before, and they were heading out the door, unavailable to anyone else. The tension was mounting and jealousy floated around the room like smoke.

No wonder they only do that once a year! A competitive enviornment with more than a dozen Bridezillas can not be safe! When my name was finally called, I stood up feeling like Jerry in the waiting room in one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes. "Well... I've been chosen... so long suckas!"

Suddenly I was thrown into a whirlwind of pouf, tulle, sparkle and satin. I was zipped, strapped and buttoned into dress after dress, all three sizes too big, too simple and too expensive. Fed up with sleepless nights of wedding dress worry, my mom had left me a gracious budget for the dress of my choice. While it would be lovely to spend a day in Vera Wang, I couldn't bring myself to purchase a plain jane sheath that needs sleeves, sparkles and a serious size adjustment.

They were beautiful, I admit. But they weren't my dress. When we were kicked out of the dressing room, 25, not 40 minutes later, we felt as if we'd just fallen out of a washing machine. We were completely frazzled, and utterly disappointed that Ines di Santo couldn't cure our long streak of wrong dresses.

To recouperate, we calmed ourselves over lettuce wraps and sesame chicken at PF Changs. I busted out my backup list of SL bridal shops and reavaluated my plan. Our sweet server noticed my desperate plight and pulled out her phone to show me her own wedding dress. She told me about Fantasy Bridal where she finally found the one- a strapless that needed a jacket to cover her garments. I thanked her profusely, and immediately scheduled an appointment at 3:00.

Our next stop was Fairy Godmother's, a woman I'd found on the internet. She's worked out of her home for years, stocked with a great deal of temple ready dresses. But after 5 dresses thrown over my head, I was really getting nervous. They all looked the same- the same shape, the same lace and the same sparkle in all the same places.

I eventually tried her strapless selection and found two amazing princess-style poufs that I was ready to order. They were gorgeous, with texture and detail that was different than any I'd seen. But I still had that 3:00 appointment, and I'm the kind of girl that wants to extinquish ALL options before making a decision.

And boy I'm glad I did.

For the first time in all 11 shops I'd been to, I had a good feeling. Instead of the rush and pressure I'd felt earlier, sweet Hailey told me I could grab six dresses at a time and go back for round two and three if I want. And when you see so many incredible dresses, round three is totally needed.

With so little time before the date, ordering is out of the question. So when I was laced into the first dress and smiling ear to ear, I knew I'd gotten lucky. Somehow this gorgeous Maggie Sotterro was the perfect size and color.

Finally I was left with two dresses, both exquisite and both exceptionally priced. The first- fun and flirty, with personality and crystal organza. The second- a satin Beauty and the Beast ballgown, with little detail, but elegant.

At each bridal shop I was always asked the same question. "What kind of dress do you want?" And at each shop I answered, "Something different." I'm sick of those Utah dresses that you see on your friend, your sister, your cousin and her dog. I wanted something completely unique, seen nowhere but the runway.

But I was worried about what people would say. Being different is difficult. You're up for critique and on display for the opinion of others. When I voiced these concerns the owner of the shop offered me practiced wisdom. "The people you invite to your wedding should think you're beautiful no matter what. Anyone to talk bad about you should go suck on an egg. Your friends and family are there to support you and love you and anyone to do otherwise isn't your friend at all."

Wiser words have never been spoken. And that's why the first dress was sold.

Well, only after a bit of a panic. As we added up the dress, bra, slip and jewelry, my mom reached for her card, only to find.... nothing! In a rush out of PF Changs, we had left her card on the table, and on to our dress appointments. The bridal shop was closing in 7 minutes and we had no money to purchase my dream dress! We zipped off to the nearest America First, praying they'd be open late on a Saturday night. But the luck of the 11th was still upon us, and we were able to withdraw the money needed for the purchase. Phew!!

We returned to the PF Changs to pick up my mom's card. I tracked down our sweet server and expressed my gratitude for her generous help in finding me a bridal shop. I know that without her I would not have found my dress. There we were, two strangers hugging in the middle of a busy restaurant, tears teasing my eyes. I know it was no big deal to her- just a suggestion to help a girl out, but her help ended my search.

I've been having a dream over the past few months. And not just any dream. It was horrific. Brace yourself. I dreamt I had no lingerie on my wedding night. Sounds ridiculous right? I was livid that my shower was heavy on crock pots, baking dishes and picture frames, but that I hadn't received a single thing red, lacy or see-through. I told The Captain about my dream, laughing over the silliness. But he was serious when he said, "It means your worried you'll have nothing to wear." No duh, I've been stressing about my dress!

So long bad dreams, my Maggie will fix that. After 11 bridal shops and a myriad of satin, sequins, pouf and puff, it's true when they say good things come to those who wait.

:)

Lust List- Christmas 2010

With my wedding two months away, my current wishes include things like pretty centerpieces, a bed for my future home, oh and a wedding dress would be nice. So when my mom asked me what I want for Christmas, I realized my wedding wishes have pretty much overtaken any Christmas presents I hoped for.

With my day off today The Captain suggested a trip to the mall for no reason at all. What a lovely change that was, to shop and browse for nothing in particular. In the process we found some gift ideas for each other. Here's some of the great things I found.

The Dillard's jewelry salesman was more than happy to show me the newest ceramic Fossil watches. He didn't miss a chance to tell me that this is the same watch Sandra Bullock wore in The Blindside, and not surprisingly now the most sought-after watch for the holiday season.
Surprisingly I like the silicone more than the ceramic (I don't like heavy things on my wrists) but it sure is cute isn't it??



I've been wanting these pumas for ages. Don't know why I haven't bought them yet, but it's a good thing I waited because now they're on sale! What better way to buy a beautiful pair of shoes.


Okay I have to have one wedding-something on my holiday wish list don't I? I have found the most amazing centerpiece ideas in this excellent furniture store. From flowers to candlesticks, they have it all. I badly want to register here, but Z Gallerie is not as practical as Target or Walmart. Sigh.... I guess I'll be lusting after Z Gallerie gift cards instead.

Alright alright I'm definitely not expecting a baby yorkie for Christmas, but I just had to include his adorable face in my wishes. Once again it's not practical to be getting a dog right now, but you can be sure I'll be begging The Captain for a yorkie as a wedding present, and a Valentine's present and my birthday present and any chance I can! I guess it's kinda sad when you've picked out a name for a dog you don't even have... haha

Look at these lovelies!!! They just have to be in the entrance of Dillard's, unsurpassable and calling my name. The 20% sign just lured me into their trance and now I'm in love. I'm crazy about the 2010 Poppy collection. Look at the orange and pink one!

Once again I'm wishing for Rock Revivals. The Captain got me some for my 20th birthday, but they were two small and I had to take them back. (Bless his heart thinkin' I'm smaller than I am) Sadly they didn't have my size in that style and in my size they didn't have a style I liked. I'll just keep on wishin'.

Has anyone noticed the amazing music in Eat Pray Love? Exotic/fun/sexy/relaxing all at once. That's the kind of music I want to cook to. ;)

I decided I have one too many pea coats/jackets/dress coats and not enough practical coats for the weather of northern Utah. I rarely needed more than a small coat in St. George so I never bothered getting anything warmer. Now I'm freezing everytime it snows!

It's no surprise that my holiday wishes are barely practical and most likely not obtainable.

But that's what a wish list is for right??

*Note: Yes I know I shouldn't be blogging, but since I shopped for wedding dresses today I figured I could reward myself with a blog post for the small dent I made in the wedding plans. ;)

Easy, breezy, baby!

I realized last night that I'm a control freak.

Okay I guess I've always known that, but last night confirmed it. Being Friday night, The Captain thought it appropriate to plan a surprise date. That doesn't happen often because I'm almost always the one to plan weekends, let alone weeknights, holidays and vacations as well.

Sadly, the date didn't pan out, as my own plans got in the way. We did go out to dinner, but it was at the place I suggested, at a time most convenient for me. No wonder he doesn't do the planning more often. :(

I feel bad. My New Year's resolution should be, "Relax, chill out, just be easy breezy, baby." Serious. I need help just letting go. To combat this control problem I have, I am letting go of all control in an area that I would normally dominate all the planning.

The Captain's going to plan our honeymoon.

A childhood friend of mine suggested this a few months ago. She allowed her fiance to surprise her with a honeymoon location. Although she wasn't thrilled with Jackson Hole upon arrival, she said it was one of the best vacations her and her honey have had together.

It scares me, letting go of control for a vacation I want just perfect. I have lofty expectations for a honeymoon. Visions of hammocks and spa days, drinks and palm trees sway through my head. None of that up the canyon, around the corner, camping in the woods stuff. I'm vying for an all-inclusive resort where we can play in the ocean, hit the spa or hang out and relax, but still near enough to the city that we can scuba, shop or tour.

But I'm fighting it- my overwhelming tendency to take over. While it is difficult to remove myself from such plans, I'm sure it will be good for me to let go. I need it. And probably good for The Captain as well. He keeps reminding me to delegate wedding plans, so why not hand off one of the stressful tasks weighing so heavily on my mind?

It's trust, really. If I couldn't trust my fiance to plan a vacation, then maybe we'd have bigger things to worry about. But he's really good with surprises. For Valentine's one year I found myself on a catamaran to Catalina Island! A complete surprise. Shoot, if he can pick out the engagement ring I wanted before I'd even seen it, I think he can plan a decent tropical trip.

So in two months time, I'll be boarding a car/plane/ship to an unknown location. With my own desires aside, I'll trust my new hubby to plan the honeymoon of a lifetime. No pressure dear. ;)

Control freak aside, this time I'll be easy, breezy, baby!

Making way...

Monday I got a swift kick to the balls. Okay maybe not so literally. I apologize for my crude humor, I just don't know how better to describe it.

In a single day my mom, fiance, hairdresser and reception center all managed to tell me I suck at wedding planning. Okay not really. In a matter of words they said I'd better hop on the wedding train or it's gonna leave town without me.

I've been slacking.

I hate making big decisions. It takes a while for me to feel good about something. And in this case, with a wedding right around the corner, time is not something I can barter with. I need to start making decisions. And quick.

But instead of solidifying, plotting and planning, I avoid it altogether. Really, I do. The Captain had to give it to me straight. "Shan," he said sternly. "You need to put the chairs away and lay off the blogging until you've got a better hold on the wedding."

What a kick to the balls. No more blogging?? :'(

Okay, okay it's true. With the time I spend blogging each week I really could make a dent in my wedding to-do list. But instead, I sit here writing yet another blog post. Shhh, don't tell The Captain.

I think I've been avoiding it. Decisions scare me, so I've buried myself in hobbies to hide from the pile of work I have looming about. I have 50-something blog posts and almost 20 chairs to sell, but I am without invitations, guest lists or a wedding dress. Somehow my priorities are all wrong...

So tomorrow I'm going to get to work. Without my spray paint and laptop to act as a security blanket life will be tough, but I've just got to buck up and do it. I'll dust off my planner and start establishing weekly goals to accomplish. Shoot maybe I'll post my weekly goals and then follow-up at the end of the week with how I did! :) I'll start making calls, decisions and appointments as painful as it is.

You know, planning a wedding around the holidays is REALLY distracting! It is really hard to focus on planning when finals are coming up, work parties need invitations and Christmas gifts need buying. But I guess these kinds of plans will never be convenient. I do like wedding planning, really I do, it's just difficult to be rushed. Ideally I'd like to make these decisions on my own time, when it's easiest for me. But that would require a pretty long engagement...

Anyways, I'd better get off to bed. Tonight's post was more thinking out loud than anything else.

That's how I work through things, I think, is talking or writing about it. That way my thoughts are organized and acknowledged instead of creeping around somewhere inside my head. If nothing else, this is a written promise to myself that I'll start making way on the wedding. And if blogging has to go in order to make way for that promise, I guess it will.

Sigh...