We're our heroine likes her own wedding better than Wills' and Kate's...
Ohai. Time for an update again, as requested once more by the lovely morbane. ;) So, I'm taking a leaf out of both her and screwthepast's books and bringing you a wedding planning update. Fun, fun.
Some days, wedding planning is piles of awesome, and makes me all happy and squidy, and makes me squee madly and do little tap dance routines on the spot. Other days, I understand why people elope to desert islands. And chuck the whole thing in, dash down to the nearest registry office, haul two strangers off the street to do the witnessing, and go grab pizza and a beer afterwards. Simply cos it all gets too much, it's too expensive and they can't be bothered.
Today is one of those days. So, I'm hoping this post, with all our mad ideas, will re-ignite some of my enthusiasm. ;P
DATE: 14 January 2012.
CEREMONY LOCATION: The Wellington Botanic Gardens- which was mentioned recently in a Simpsons episode, no less! We'll be having the ceremony in the Dell, which is a huge (but still cute and intimate) picnic area, with a stage. There shall be a high tea to follow, and we'll be providing picnic blankets. If it rains, it'll be at St Andrews on The Terrace, a gorgeous and very liberal and inclusive church, just down from where I work.
Oh, and if it's sunny, there'll be a bouncy castle. For kids of *all* ages. ;)
RECEPTION: Will be held at the cafe/bar on the Massey University campus. Not overly flashy, but still pretty and roomy, with lots of natural light, a nice outdoor area and a cheap-ish bar. Massey is a significant location for us, as we are DJs with the student radio station, and Matt's studying there at the moment. Plus, it's actually semi-affordable. And our wedding co-ordinator and caterer is just darling.
Here it is, set up for a wedding:
DRESS: Very important. ;P I've got me a dressmaker, Rasha Taylor (who I picked up at a wedding fair), all lined up. She's brilliant- definitely more of the "offbeat" persuasion, very easy to talk to, and definitely knows her shit.
My dress will be emerald green, most likely silk, and will probably be in a wrap-around style, similar to these:
And hopefully with a lace-up back:
My friend Shelley from my knitting group is making me a lace shawl, and I'll be knitting some elbow-length gloves, inspired by these lovely ladies. No idea what I'm doing for shoes. Not overly looking forward to that part. More excited about shopping for undergarments. Oh, and I'll probably be going for a separate reception outfit, money permitting. Most likely featuring a poodle skirt.
No idea what Matt's doing with his suit. I wanna be surprised. ;)
HAIR: Definitely long and curly. Something like this, perhaps:
I'll also be handmaking a fascinator (with white knitted flowers, and some feathers), most likely with supervision! Too expensive to get one made for me.
BRIDAL PARTY: Four on each side- three adult bridesmaids (blue_tiger25, imaginary_men and my friend Sara from my old work) and my sister Rose as junior bridesmaid, and three adult groomsmen. My brother Henry is giving me away (awww...), and will also be a "junior groomsman" for Matt (as we think he's a bit too old to be a page boy! ;P)
My 'maids will be wearing cocktail dresses (handmade by my awesome friend Holly!), most likely in blue, and I'll be knitting them shawls in a raspberry red. The lads...yeah, Matt can sort them out. ;P
FLOWERS: Inspired by screwthepast, I'm knitting the lot: the bouquets, the buttonholes, flowers for mine and the bridesmaids' hair, decorations for our "pews" at the ceremony (mainly to mark out the aisle) and, possibly, table decorations. Big job, but I've got loads of awesomesauce people helping out, and they're looking brilliant so far. :D
Some bouquet lilies (white for me, pinky-red for the 'maids):
Bouquet roses:
Rose buttonholes for the women (the men's will be lilies):
Graffitti-style chair decoration:
The bouquets will also have wire and crystal stems in both green and silver, for a bit of extra bling. Kinda the DIY and less-expensive version of these.
SAVE THE DATES/INVITES: Save The Dates are very close to going out! Will post a pic once they've gone but, keeping with our music theme, we've based them on this poster for a Decemberists gig.
We plan to do our invites in the style of CD booklets, most likely to be based off the album The Hazards of Love (also by the Decemberists!), which has this front cover:
PHOTOGRAPHY: We have an adorable lady named Paula (recommended by my old flatmate from Christchurch, who also had her as a wedding photographer) coming from the Hawke's Bay to do our photos. And we'll be doing a photoshoot on Cuba Street, one of our favourite places, and where we practically lived when we were first dating.
We may or may not hire a photobooth for the reception from these guys. If we're too broke, we'll do our own. With props, o'course.
CELEBRANT/STYLE OF CEREMONY: We have two choices of celebrant: my good friend's husband, who is happy to re-register as a marriage celebrant to do our ceremony, and Dr Margaret Mayman, the Reverend at St Andrews church, whom we met with today. Dr Mayman is probably more our style...but our mate's hubby will probably do our ceremony for free. So...hmmm.
Our ceremony will be fairly traditional in format (readings, small sermon, vows, ring exchange, kiss the bride, sign the papers etc), but will not be overly religious, and will be most likely be written (including the vows) by us, inspired once again by screwthepast and her hubby. We'll have three readings, including a poem of mine (which I still haven't written...ooops), read by miriamus. We may have some sort of unity ceremony at the end, involving the fam dam.
MUSIC: Still undecided about live music at the reception. If so, we'll be going for my old Uni friend's 9-piece Motown covers band, Sophie and the Realistic Expectations. Here they are on Youtube. The lead singer looks fierce- totally my style! If we're too broke again, we'll DJ ourselves, with our trusty iPods. Already got a draft playlist. ;P
As for the ceremony, I'm walking up the aisle to this song. Shuddup, haterz. ;P Haven't figured out the rest. Though I really do want our first dance to Guns N' Roses.
CAKE: Will be made by the very talented and wonderful purplesparkler! Will most likely, if she's up for it, look something like this:
We'll also be having a cupcake tower, with a cake topper. Which I'll be knitting.
RECEPTION DECOR: Most definitely music-themed. We plan to string up blank CDs, plus a few LPs, as decorations. Tables will be named after albums we love. Table centrepieces will either be more knitted flowers, or else flowers made from sheet music. Sorta like these:
Just need to find some Decemberists or New Pornographers sheet music to use. There seems to be a depressing lack on the web...
HONEYMOON: We're thinking Asia- most likely Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Will probably set up a honeymoon registry.
THINGS WE'RE NOT DOING: A few:
* Flower girl or ring-bearer
* Unity candle
* Bible readings
* Any vows using the words "submit" or "obey"
* Father-daughter dance
* Garter toss. I will probably make a garter, but it will not get tossed to Matt's mates. At all. *shudder* (There will be a bouquet toss, but with a twist)
* Fancy limos.
And...that's us, for now! Will probably do another progress update in a few months' time. However, as several of my LJers will hopefully be attending the wedding, I will not be posting any pics of my dress. Matt won't be seeing it until the day, and neither will you (unless you're my Mum, or a bridesmaid). ;P I love surprises...;)
Yeah, my enthusiasm's officially returned. Just keep your fingers crossed that A) our parents are feeling generous or B) we come up with enough money ourselves...
Some days, wedding planning is piles of awesome, and makes me all happy and squidy, and makes me squee madly and do little tap dance routines on the spot. Other days, I understand why people elope to desert islands. And chuck the whole thing in, dash down to the nearest registry office, haul two strangers off the street to do the witnessing, and go grab pizza and a beer afterwards. Simply cos it all gets too much, it's too expensive and they can't be bothered.
Today is one of those days. So, I'm hoping this post, with all our mad ideas, will re-ignite some of my enthusiasm. ;P
DATE: 14 January 2012.
CEREMONY LOCATION: The Wellington Botanic Gardens- which was mentioned recently in a Simpsons episode, no less! We'll be having the ceremony in the Dell, which is a huge (but still cute and intimate) picnic area, with a stage. There shall be a high tea to follow, and we'll be providing picnic blankets. If it rains, it'll be at St Andrews on The Terrace, a gorgeous and very liberal and inclusive church, just down from where I work.
Oh, and if it's sunny, there'll be a bouncy castle. For kids of *all* ages. ;)
RECEPTION: Will be held at the cafe/bar on the Massey University campus. Not overly flashy, but still pretty and roomy, with lots of natural light, a nice outdoor area and a cheap-ish bar. Massey is a significant location for us, as we are DJs with the student radio station, and Matt's studying there at the moment. Plus, it's actually semi-affordable. And our wedding co-ordinator and caterer is just darling.
Here it is, set up for a wedding:
DRESS: Very important. ;P I've got me a dressmaker, Rasha Taylor (who I picked up at a wedding fair), all lined up. She's brilliant- definitely more of the "offbeat" persuasion, very easy to talk to, and definitely knows her shit.
My dress will be emerald green, most likely silk, and will probably be in a wrap-around style, similar to these:
And hopefully with a lace-up back:
My friend Shelley from my knitting group is making me a lace shawl, and I'll be knitting some elbow-length gloves, inspired by these lovely ladies. No idea what I'm doing for shoes. Not overly looking forward to that part. More excited about shopping for undergarments. Oh, and I'll probably be going for a separate reception outfit, money permitting. Most likely featuring a poodle skirt.
No idea what Matt's doing with his suit. I wanna be surprised. ;)
HAIR: Definitely long and curly. Something like this, perhaps:
I'll also be handmaking a fascinator (with white knitted flowers, and some feathers), most likely with supervision! Too expensive to get one made for me.
BRIDAL PARTY: Four on each side- three adult bridesmaids (blue_tiger25, imaginary_men and my friend Sara from my old work) and my sister Rose as junior bridesmaid, and three adult groomsmen. My brother Henry is giving me away (awww...), and will also be a "junior groomsman" for Matt (as we think he's a bit too old to be a page boy! ;P)
My 'maids will be wearing cocktail dresses (handmade by my awesome friend Holly!), most likely in blue, and I'll be knitting them shawls in a raspberry red. The lads...yeah, Matt can sort them out. ;P
FLOWERS: Inspired by screwthepast, I'm knitting the lot: the bouquets, the buttonholes, flowers for mine and the bridesmaids' hair, decorations for our "pews" at the ceremony (mainly to mark out the aisle) and, possibly, table decorations. Big job, but I've got loads of awesomesauce people helping out, and they're looking brilliant so far. :D
Some bouquet lilies (white for me, pinky-red for the 'maids):
Bouquet roses:
Rose buttonholes for the women (the men's will be lilies):
Graffitti-style chair decoration:
The bouquets will also have wire and crystal stems in both green and silver, for a bit of extra bling. Kinda the DIY and less-expensive version of these.
SAVE THE DATES/INVITES: Save The Dates are very close to going out! Will post a pic once they've gone but, keeping with our music theme, we've based them on this poster for a Decemberists gig.
We plan to do our invites in the style of CD booklets, most likely to be based off the album The Hazards of Love (also by the Decemberists!), which has this front cover:
PHOTOGRAPHY: We have an adorable lady named Paula (recommended by my old flatmate from Christchurch, who also had her as a wedding photographer) coming from the Hawke's Bay to do our photos. And we'll be doing a photoshoot on Cuba Street, one of our favourite places, and where we practically lived when we were first dating.
We may or may not hire a photobooth for the reception from these guys. If we're too broke, we'll do our own. With props, o'course.
CELEBRANT/STYLE OF CEREMONY: We have two choices of celebrant: my good friend's husband, who is happy to re-register as a marriage celebrant to do our ceremony, and Dr Margaret Mayman, the Reverend at St Andrews church, whom we met with today. Dr Mayman is probably more our style...but our mate's hubby will probably do our ceremony for free. So...hmmm.
Our ceremony will be fairly traditional in format (readings, small sermon, vows, ring exchange, kiss the bride, sign the papers etc), but will not be overly religious, and will be most likely be written (including the vows) by us, inspired once again by screwthepast and her hubby. We'll have three readings, including a poem of mine (which I still haven't written...ooops), read by miriamus. We may have some sort of unity ceremony at the end, involving the fam dam.
MUSIC: Still undecided about live music at the reception. If so, we'll be going for my old Uni friend's 9-piece Motown covers band, Sophie and the Realistic Expectations. Here they are on Youtube. The lead singer looks fierce- totally my style! If we're too broke again, we'll DJ ourselves, with our trusty iPods. Already got a draft playlist. ;P
As for the ceremony, I'm walking up the aisle to this song. Shuddup, haterz. ;P Haven't figured out the rest. Though I really do want our first dance to Guns N' Roses.
CAKE: Will be made by the very talented and wonderful purplesparkler! Will most likely, if she's up for it, look something like this:
We'll also be having a cupcake tower, with a cake topper. Which I'll be knitting.
RECEPTION DECOR: Most definitely music-themed. We plan to string up blank CDs, plus a few LPs, as decorations. Tables will be named after albums we love. Table centrepieces will either be more knitted flowers, or else flowers made from sheet music. Sorta like these:
Just need to find some Decemberists or New Pornographers sheet music to use. There seems to be a depressing lack on the web...
HONEYMOON: We're thinking Asia- most likely Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Will probably set up a honeymoon registry.
THINGS WE'RE NOT DOING: A few:
* Flower girl or ring-bearer
* Unity candle
* Bible readings
* Any vows using the words "submit" or "obey"
* Father-daughter dance
* Garter toss. I will probably make a garter, but it will not get tossed to Matt's mates. At all. *shudder* (There will be a bouquet toss, but with a twist)
* Fancy limos.
And...that's us, for now! Will probably do another progress update in a few months' time. However, as several of my LJers will hopefully be attending the wedding, I will not be posting any pics of my dress. Matt won't be seeing it until the day, and neither will you (unless you're my Mum, or a bridesmaid). ;P I love surprises...;)
Yeah, my enthusiasm's officially returned. Just keep your fingers crossed that A) our parents are feeling generous or B) we come up with enough money ourselves...