What's on the menu?

"These are so cute!"

I exclaimed, marveling over the mini sandwiches that were loaded with lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheese, and a hamburger patty on two little buns. Johnny placed our two samplings on the table in front of us and proceeded to take his little sandwich between two fingers. It's size in comparison to his mouth gave me the giggles all over again. "Wait!" I quickly ordered, picking up my phone and snapping a posed shot of him. "We will definitely be adding these to our menu!"

I placed a check mark on the menu the receptionist had given us beside the sliders and fries and quickly gobbled down the sandwich in a few quick bites.  I nibbled on the 4 or 5 fries that accompanied the item as I systematically checked down through the food that had either met or not met our satisfaction and quickly added, "Our guests reactions will be priceless!" (Hehe, which is why I've excluded the picture!) Priceless the wedding menu shall be, if not by the size of the food than by the taste of it! The sliders and fries are but a small part of what can be expected on the buffet or passed as hors d'oeuvres. There were several items that were quite tasty, among them, the Parmesan Caesar salad toast cups, the fresh fruit and cheese platter, and the meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato icing, but none that created as lasting an impression as the sliders.

I can definitely say that attending the tasting this past weekend at Grandview was beneficial for us. The purpose of the event was not just to acquaint us with Grandview's catering services, but to also introduce it's interested couple with several other available services in the wedding industry. Throughout the night, we were able to meet the evening's featured photographer, Daisy Moffatt, view the flowers that had been arranged by May Flowers Florists, and hear an actual harpist, Ansley Unsworth preform. The latter, actually made the biggest impression upon me. There is something very elegant about harpist music.

Aside from Grandview's catering, we were supplied with a second list that priced all the special décor that Grandview could supply. Everything from floating candles over the mantle to lanterns on the table and bistro lights. (I really loved the bistro lights!) If I had not already started gathering supplies for the table centerpieces, I would have been very tempted to rent the lanterns from Grandview for table centerpieces. They offered 3 decently sized lanterns for reasonable prices. I am giving considerable thought to them hanging around the patio (pictured above), which I like the look of very much.

The simply designed arbor (pictured to the left) however, made it painfully aware that it was going to need some sprucing up a bit. It looked very plain Jane. I'm thinking a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michael's for a silk rose garland or ivy something will be planned very soon. It will be hanging in the dusk light, so I don't think anyone will be closely inspecting it, but I want it to be pretty nonetheless. I'm open to any suggestions that might make this look a bit more elegant and less...drapish.







The tables (on the right) out on the patio on the other hand were very nicely decorated with linens supplied by White Tables. It is a tablecloth and overlay combination, very pretty, but also a bit pricey at around $21 per table. I'm afraid that is outside of our budget, especially to rent. Instead, I'm thinking about buying our linens off of efavormart online. For this look, however, it would probably cost the same. I am actually giving a lot of thought to purchasing linens versus renting them. For one, I get to keep the product and two, because we are doing common black and white colors, I could easily resell them on Etsy or Ebay. I did obtain the dimensions for the tables and will be looking into this venture a bit more.

 

During our walk outdoors (yes! I'm still a bit frightened of weather being an issue outdoors!) I snapped a picture of the courtyard seating sample and thought amused that it would not be long before I was walking down that aisle. It looked so different with the chairs set up. The picture shows it set for 80 people, which is give or take the number of our guest list. I don't think we'll have a problem fitting in a chair here or there though if we go over. Although, I'm thinking of making each row have 8 chairs in order to make the courtyard look more full.

Overall, my impression of the event was good.  The atmosphere was comfortable and helped me get a clear picture of how the general milling about of guests in relation to the course of events might occur during our wedding. The food again was tasty, especially what we kept on our list, and in sizable portions that I think will be manageable as a late night snack. The staff were also very helpful and professional. I'm glad that Grandview is able to offer these events to people who are interested in their venue. It really sets them apart from most places. If we had not already chosen them before the tasting, I probably would have after this event. I have actually been very impressed by Grandview's reputation in the wedding industry. Over the last week I have gone on the search for a wedding photographer (which we be a later post) and have heard compliments from 2 different people about how efficient and professional Grandview is at providing a one of a kind wedding that is uniquely special. Upon that fact, I have no doubt. :)
http://www.efavormart.com/

It's a Date!

Let the countdown begin!

We have finally decided on a date for our wedding! On June 23rd, in just ninety-seven days, Johnny and I will be exchanging our wedding vows! Imagine, that is just a little over 3 months away and there is still so much to do! Everyone is probably thinking, "You guys are crazy! There is no way you'll get everything planned!" Well, I'll admit, before we decided, Johnny and I did have reservations about our abilities to plan a wedding in 4 months or less. For a while we even considered moving our wedding to a date in September that Grandview had available. After all, Autumn is one of my favorite seasons too and it would not have been too difficult to imagine a fall wedding. However, after talking it over and with several other people who have planned their weddings with as much time or less, we felt the time frame was manageable. Potentially, more stressful, yes, but not unmanageable.

When Johnny and I first talked about dates, I wanted it to be in May or June. Aside from Autumn when the colors are changing, I think Spring is one of the prettier seasons of the year. It's a season with a lot of natural beauty as everything is turning green, flowers begin to bloom, and new life springs forth after it's cold dormant hibernation through winter. It's also warmer, with milder, less chilly temperatures, making it more pleasant to be outside. A very important detail for someone, such as ourselves, who are planning an outdoor wedding. I am just hoping that by late June we will also be escaping the humid rainstorms that grace our Spring/Summers down South. This was our reasoning in skipping past the dates in May for one in June.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the most common months for weddings are in May, June, September, and October. So, with a date in June we were competing with every other couple wanting to get married during the prime seasons of the year. It's amazing, I never realized just how many people get married until I started trying to book dates for the wedding. Suddenly, it seemed like the whole world around me was getting married! Luckily, availability was not really a problem at Grandview since we had decided to get married on a weekday. Most venues are more expensive on Friday and Saturdays, then Sundays, or days during the week. At Grandview the difference was pretty significant between the weekend dates and weekdays. So we decided a Monday would make the best sense as a three day weekend for anyone wanting to come visit on vacation for the wedding. This option also allowed us to save money in a high dollar area of our budget.

Summer is usually when people spend time off from work to take a vacation. We figured our guests were more likely to attend our wedding if we picked a date in June rather than September. This was particularly advantageous for those with kids who would be in school, which included several people in my immediate family and new family alike. So if any of our guests want to come this Summer and vacation to our fair city, we can recommend lots of fun things to do in Chattanooga, besides our wedding while you are visiting.

Our last consideration for the date was to avoid any holidays a week before and after our wedding. Following anniversaries are a big consideration, particularly how we might spend them together. Johnny and I both like to travel and odds are pretty high that we will be spending anniversaries abroad for the next few years. We have aspirations to see all seven continents (yes even Antarctica) within our lifetime and all fifty states! We each have a few left or several on the list! At any rate, we both have an immense love for traveling and we both know how traveling can become both expensive and irritating around the holidays. Avoiding the holidays was a huge consideration to the date, which June 23rd seemed to solve!

So tick tock let the countdown begin...


 

Wedding Dress Alterations!

Update with a Tidbit of History!

This weekend I returned to B&J Formals for a fitting after the alterations of my wedding dress. I was very pleased with the results! The ladies there did an excellent job in making it look fabulous! My favorite addition to the dress is actually the bustle, which compliments the dress nicely in a refined and elegant way! I think I like the train bustled more than simply hanging loose. It also gives the wedding dress a style reminiscent of the turn of the century, which will fit nicely with the English Tudor style at Grandview. For curiosity sake, I actually looked up the term bustle and found a few fascinating facts I thought I would share.


19th century bustle
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/USpatent131840_1872.gif

Originally, a bustle was an undergarment, worn under a dress as a type of framework used to expand the fullness or support the drapery on the back of a woman's dress. This type of fashion occurred predominantly in the mid-to-late 19th century and is often associated with Victorian fashion. The bustle also served the purpose of keeping the skirt from dragging on the ground. Together with the corset, these two undergarments were meant to accentuate the female figure; primarily, the rump, waist, and bosom, and represented the ideal female appearance during the time period. The following image to the right illustrates the concept of the bustle in the late 19th century. Bustling my dress was a much simpler process. The seamstress at B&J Formals merely attached a hook and eye to the back of my gown and was able to tuck and fold material in order to give it the same appearance. I will not require any fancy undergarments or corsets to make my gown look fuller. I can only imagine how hot it was like to wear all those extra layers a hundred years ago. I could dive into a discussion about the tortures that women put themselves through for the sake of what society deemed as being ideally beautiful, but I don't want to start ranting. I will merely move on...



I love this picture my mom got as
 I packed my wedding dress in the car!

In addition to the bustle, the ladies also sewed in a couple darts into the bust. This actually made the dress a little bit tight in the chest, but not unmanageable. I am no longer in danger of flashing my audience and giving them an eye full. However, the material does not provide much room to give. I will need to be mindful of any weight I gain between now and the wedding date. A phenomenon that seems to impose itself upon me when I am under stress...which is a state of being I often find myself when planning the little details of our wedding. Hahaha!

In short, I am very pleased with the alterations that have been done to my dress! The ladies made a few other small additions, but I'm afraid too many details will provide to much imagery for my fiancé's vivid imagination. I'll tease you with the picture on the left instead. No spoiler alert necessary! :)

My Wedding Dress Adventure: No Peeking!

"This is the one!"

I exclaimed, running my hands over the fabric and starring at my reflection in the mirror. My mom surveyed the gown within the field of her iPhone camera and snapped a couple pictures of me in all the glory of my wedding dress! The sales lady, Theresa, made some quick alterations with a few strategically placed pins as I heard my mom's approval, "I think you are right! That one is very beautiful!" I took another glance at my reflection in the mirror and raised on tiptoes to pretend I was in high heels as Theresa placed a pin in the correct place to bustle my train. The dress was an absolutely stunning gown, emphasizing curves and fanning into a controllable manner, all while flattering my figure! I knew right at that moment I had found my wedding dress! Shhh!!!..... Of course, I really can't describe it in too great a detail or post a picture, lest prying eyes should see (aka: my fiancé.) That whole not seeing the bride in her wedding dress tradition/superstition and all! So everyone will just have to wait until the wedding day or until wedding pictures are posted to see it's perfectness!

The dress really does make me look amazingly gorgeous, but that is not its only appealing attribute, considering the boutique was offering a 50% off sale through the end of February on all things bridal, including the wedding dresses! I was tipped off about this great sale by my mom who happened to see the posted offer displayed in the window of B&J's Formals in Corinth, Mississippi. My mom has pretty good taste and saw the potential to help me penny pinch in another high dollar area of my budget. She scoped out the place before I made the drive over from Chattanooga to view the boutique. The pursuit of finding a wedding dress seemed like an excellent mother daughter excursion too! :) I had tried on a couple of dresses earlier in February by myself at David's Bridal. The experience was a bit depressing alone. It's much more fun when someone else can help you in and out of the dress and take pictures! Unfortunately, I did not find a dress at David's Bridal. I was looking for dresses with a lot of lace, but this year's David's Bridal collections didn't seem to have many with its inclusion.

My experience at B&J's Formals with my Mom was much more fun! I'm glad we were able to get together and actually find a dress. Although I'll admit, I thought it would take longer to decide on one, considering it took so long to find our venue. The ladies at B&J's Formals were really nice too! They were very informative and helpful, but didn't suddenly become a second shadow spouting off facts about the dresses, deals, or any other means of pressure-some and uncomfortable behavior. They opened a dressing room and placed the 5 or 6 dresses we had selected on the hook. I gathered right away that customers were not as frequent as they used to be, since they didn't fuss over us having more than the 3 dress minimum in the dressing room. They also spoke of downsizing their stock, mentioning that the internet had made it too difficult to compete. Of course, this was to my benefit with the 50% off sale! This boutique also provided brides with the option of renting the gown rather than limiting them to simply having to buy it. Although, some may frown at buying a rental or pre-owned dress, it is becoming a trendy way to save money on designer gowns. Sites such as www.BravoBride.com and www.OnceWed.com allow brides to pass on their new or pre-owned wedding dresses to another bride at a discounted price. The dress I purchased from the boutique was actually 60% off of its original retail price and has a well respected name to boot! If you are thinking of saving money in this area of your wedding budget, particularly by not spending an enormous amount on the wedding dress, the following blog offers some creative options. http://www.bravobride.com/blog/tag/jasmine-f473/

There are a few tips I've collected during my experience that a bride hunting for the perfect wedding dress might find helpful. First, look at lots of pictures! This can be an overwhelming process as your fashion senses verge on the brink of sensory overload. Looking at pictures can help you envision a wedding dress that defines who you are as you narrow down your particular style.Taking your time in deciding what you like is certainly well worth the time. This can also potentially save you from becoming disappointed after buying the first dress you like on a whim. Bridal magazines like The Knot Magazine and Bridal Guide usually contain hundreds of dresses by popular designers in the wedding industry and list the perspective price ranges for each of the featured dresses. Magazines like The Knot Magazine also contain listings for boutique locations where you can buy certain designer lines as well. These magazines can be useful in displaying the latest trends in wedding fashion. Do not feel limited simply to magazines to define your wedding dress style. There are also free resources available that are quite popular as well: Pinterest, Instagram, Etsy, and the internet, to name a few. These sites often feature new and creative wedding fashions and dress ideas.

I did purchase The Knot Magazine and went through it with my fiancé. I can't say this influenced my taste any, but it was kind of fun getting a sense of what he thought was pretty. I had a lot of fun sorting through the pictures and revealing my own sense of likes and dislikes. I really loved the elegance of the lace dresses. There was something very timeless and romantic about this type of fabric when coupled with the 3/4 or capped sleeves. I ranked this fabric relatively high on my list of likes, along with the classier look of buttons and laces down the back! I tended to prefer the dresses that clung and flattered the figure, particularly the trumpet and mermaid styles rather than the sheath and ball gowns. I also gravitated toward dresses that had a controllable train, meaning that it could be bustled or detached. Which is usually an available option for most wedding dresses. Nothing like a gargantuous dress to stumble over on the way down the aisle or try to contain during the reception. For me this was an essential element for my wedding dress, since tripping is already a very real fear I have if I wear high hears during the ceremony or reception. Certainly don't want to be taking a trip that quickly! Hahaha...

Another helpful tip is to set a budget for your dress before you start searching for it. Once you commit to that price feel free to shop. However, do not try on anything outside of the number you have selected for your budget, because the worst thing to happen, would be to fall in love with the perfect dress you can't afford. Also be on the lookout for end of the season and discount sales. Boutique often change their floor stocks out during the year to make room for newer designs. It is possible to buy a more expensive dress for your budgeted price if you can catch a discounted sale. However, stock might be limited or sales sporadic, so it's best to have a dollar amount in mind that you are willing to spend on your dress and look in that price range.

If it is possible, online picture shop first before visiting any of their local bridal boutiques. Preview their dresses online and make a list of any specific dresses that you would like to try on when you do visit. Do not be afraid to include a couple that are totally different to your selections! You never know, you might just look amazing in the one you least suspect! This might seem like a lot of forward work, but it will save time later when you start to actively pursue a dress in a boutique. I would also recommend actually buying a dress that you try on first. Sadly, this philosophy excludes most cheap dresses you'll find online. Oh, and just in case you are asking yourself, "Do I really need to try on the dress first when I know my measurements?" The answer is, "Yes!"  Dress sizes can range significantly between designers. Surprisingly, I was everywhere between a size 4 to 10 when I tried on dresses, which was eye opening. I originally was fond of the idea of buying a dress online, but not after that. (This doesn't mean you can't buy online though. That's just my opinion.) Another consideration is that fabric sometimes lays differently on flesh than when it is on a hanger or manikin. Some dresses may even need alterations in order for them to fit perfectly. My dress required a couple darts in the bust so that I wasn't unveiling more at my wedding than intended!

In the end, I am extremely happy with my wedding dress I purchased from B&J's Formals! It is stunningly gorgeous on me and will be perfect! I also got to spend some quality time with my mom and share the experience with her! Right now I am waiting for alterations to be completed on the dress, which wasn't going to cost but $20 to have done. (This is really cheap comparative speaking.) I was also able to get a fabulous deal and stay well under the price I budgeted for the dress! I just wish I could post a picture of this awesome find, but I know prying eyes are afoot! (He was very disappointed he couldn't see a picture, so I'm not taking any chances!) There will be no premature peeking!!!