Welcome to my planning bio!
If I have taken a picture and haven't given you credit,
please send me a message so that I can do so! [email protected] Also - if you would like to contact me for any templates or questions - feel free too! Thanks and happy planning!
A Few Engagement Photos - taken by my uncle, Dan Woods
Our Ceremony Location: Wynn Las Vegas
CJ and I were originally going to get married in our home state of Florida; however, we felt it might be more exciting to get married where we live now - Las Vegas! We have chosen the Wynn Las Vegas for our ceremony. It is absolutely gorgeous and offers such an elegant level of class and sophistication - we are SO excited!
We are getting married in the Wedding Salon's Primrose Courtyard. We will be having an evening ceremony - much recommended by Cabriole, my Wedding Coordinator. The courtyard is large enough to fit all of our guests (110+) and provides a stunning setting for the ceremony! We're extremely thrilled with our choice! Photos above (top courtesy of The Wynn Las Vegas; bottom courtesy of Chelsea-Nicole Photography)
Reception Location: Maggiano's Little Italy
CJ and I are holding our reception at Maggiano's in the Fashion Show Mall on The Strip. It's literally right across the street from the Wynn and has been so helpful and accommodating! We have been working with Marc and he is just wonderful!
Our Engagement:
CJ had me thinking that we were going to an early dinner with his boss and his boss' wife. CJ had me bake a pie and everything. Then he called me requesting she grab a toothbrush and flip flops and go outside. There was a limo waiting to take me out to Lake Las Vegas. Once I arrived, CJ instructed me to check into a suite where I found roses everywhere. I also found a note telling her to hurry down to the spa for a massage. Afterwards, we met for dinner. I thought that this was all for our anniversary which was 2 days later. The thought had crossed my mind that CJ could be proposing but I kept second-guessing it. Then, we went for a walk under a beautiful harvest moon. We approached the top of a bridge, I turned around to say something, and there he was with the ring. He knelt down and asked me to marry him - of course I said yes through my hysterics. CJ then had a gondola pick us both up with champagne and chocolates to celebrate. It was so storybook-like...it will be a day we both will always remember!
My beautiful engagament ring that CJ gave to me. Top pic - moments after the engagement (happy girl, can't you tell?). Bottom pic - taken from my blackberry the day after the proposal (and a manicure - of course)... ;-) He designed it with Vanessa from Michael E. Minden jewelers. I have since met with her to custom create my wedding band and select CJ's band and she is just awesome!!! I highly recommend her!
Our Color Combination:
CJ and I wanted to stick with the "classic" wedding idea. Thus, we decided on black, champagne, and he let me throw in a bit of rusty, champagne pink. :-) They're timeless and are extremely easy to match.
Hair Ideas:
I want to wear my hair half up/half down. I love the romantic aspect of long curls and am completely set on this type of style. :-)
Hair Trial:
Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids:
Bridesmaids Attire:
The bridesmaids will be wearing this Alfred Angelo dress style 7012 in the color Cafe. They will be able to wear their choice of metallic (either champagne, gold, or silver), strappy, heeled shoes. It can be found at AlfredAngelo.com
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer:
At first we weren't going to have a flower girl or a ring bearer; however, we have since changed our minds. Lil' Miss Hailey will be our flower girl and Mr. Hunter will be our ring bearer. Their parents are very clsoe friends of ours as are Miss Hailey and Mr. Hunter. :-)
My Gown:
And here it is! The gown is a Paloma Blanca gown style 3802 in Shell. I saw it - I was sold.
So...little bump in the road... My gown came in - yeah! One problem...it was THREE SIZES TOO BIG! I might be smiling in the pic....but I'm secretly crying and screaming inside! Luckily...it was an order goof-up and was fixed immediately! <sigh>
There we go.... :-) Final fitting:
Paper Ideas:
My Paper Creations:
Our monogram (above)
Our save the dates! We mailed them out around the middle of July. I designed them on VistaPrint.com. I have used them in the past and will continue to use them for everything except for the formal invitations. I LOVE them, and everything is always free! :-)
Above is the digital photo card that I created on VistaPrint.com (as a business card). I will be attaching these to the programs guests with hopes that they will take advantage of them.
Above are the napkins that I had customized by Ebay seller zofiaschoice. LOVE THEM!
Below is the wedding invite (just a screen shot...you'll see that I doubled up per sheet to conserve paper :-) ):
Below is the template the I created for my pocketfold inserts:
Below are samples of the Bridesmaids newsletter that I sent out to my girls!
Below is the timeline that I created for all women in the Bridal/Wedding Party. All of them were specific for each lady and inserted in the last issue of the Aisle File (sent out 2 months prior to the wedding).
Below are the bachelorette invitations, rehearsal dinner invitations and rehearsal dinner menus all made on VistaPrint.com
My super nice friend Kiara and I putting together the reserved seating signs, programs and 150 pocketfold invites - ugh! :-)
Reserved Seating signs:
Invite photos below. Sorry that they are blurry (they were taken with my blackberry)
Program sample:
Stephen Colbert RSVP'd! Unfortunately...he declined...but he sent us a nice card and signed photo anyways! Woo hoo!
Mickey and Minnie sent something too! :-) I have a list of "Celeb" addresses that we sent invites to - email me if you want them!
Gifts:
It took us a little while to decide what to get our Wedding Party...but in the end we were SO happy and satisfied with what we went with (so was our Wedding Party)!
Our parents received HP Digital Picture Frames. They were thrilled but couldn't fit them in their luggage...that was okay thought because it gave us the opportunity to load the frames with wedding photos before sending them back to Florida! :-)
My Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids received Ralph Lauren travel sets, personalized stationary, tank tops and their bridesmaids' jewelry.
CJ's Best Man and Groomsmen received IPod Shuffles.
Cake Ideas:
Cake #1 (on top) is what I have decided to go with. The fondant icing is a little pricey...but SO worth it! However, I have heard that it isn't the tastiest...so we might try and obtain a similar look with buttercream. We're on track to use Cakes by Ruth. They have been VERY helpful and respond to emails immediately! Dawn has mentioned that the entire cake can have buttercream frosting and JUST the draping will be in fondant. We will have a four-tiered cake: bottom tier is lemon cake with raspberry filling; tier 2 is marble cake with hazelnut mousse filling; top 2 tiers are red velvet cake with cream cheese icing filling - yum yum!!!
Bouquet Ideas:
I kind of want a mixture of the bouquets pictured above. I'm leaning towards the bouquet on the top...then maybe hints of the other three within it. I want to keep it very monochromatic.
Table Ideas:
We have decided to use The Palette for our centerpieces and other floral decor. Pam has been a gem! She was highly recommended to me from the other knotties and so far so good! Thanks girls!
Ceremony Music:
Prelude:
Prelude in C
That's All
The Way You Look Tonight
Just the Way you Are
Processional:
All I Ask of You
Entrance of the Bride:
An Improvisation in Canon D
Recessional:
Gumption
Postlude:
That's All (but the real version with Michael Buble)
The Little Things...and Ideas:
Go Bucs! This is the garter set that I ordered from EBay seller kristis_charmed_life. CJ is a HUGE Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan! He's actually a fan of all Tampa teams...so I figured I would get these garters as a surprise for him to wear on our wedding day and then do a Tampa Bay Rays MLB cake for his Groom's Cake.
My shoes - Nina in Champagne!
I will be doing this (above) on the bottom of my shoes (a "C" and an "A" of course) :-)
My grandmother is creating a dress patch with my original monogram and the wedding date.
Sue from Embroidery Sew Personal will be embroidering hankies for myself, my mother, FMIL, Aunts, Grandma, and FG's mother. I stole this idea from onf of my BM's (she did them at her wedding). She had such a good point - it looks so much better than a handful of tissues. :-) Sue is also embroidering BM, mothers, and my tanks! I'm sure I will have pics in my married bio. You can reach her at [email protected]
I plan on creating signs like these for our Sweetheart Table at the reception
To Do List: ALL COMPLETE! WOO HOO!
Ceremony
Programs
Book Site with Deposit
Select Package for the Site and Complete Workbooks
Flowers
Wedding Rings
Readings
Pick Music
Choose and Interview Officiates
Reception/Hotel
Book Site with Deposit
Book Hotel Blocks
Book DJ
Select Important Dance Songs
Centerpieces
Pick Cake
Pack for night of wedding
Guestbook [photo book from Shutterfly or somewhere similar]
Digital Picture sharing cards
Toss Garter
Bride Stuff
Dress
Dress Patch
Blue on Bottom of Shoes
Penny with birth years
Undies/Bra
Veil
Flower for Hair (Recpeption)
Jewelry (Earrings, Bracelet, Necklace, Sorority Badge, Cameos)
Garter
Shoes
Hair Styles
Makeup Styles
Makeup Artist
All tops and such (mine, BM’s, moms, etc).
Mani/Pedi/Wax a few days before
Rehearsal Dinner
Book Restaurant
Bridesmaid Gifts
Groomsmen Gifts
Parent Gifts
Dress
Shower Ribbon Bouquet for rehearsal
Pack for night before wedding
Invitations
Miscellaneous
Photographer
Transportation
Bridesmaids Dresses
Groom/Groomsmen Attire
Save the Dates – being mailed out July 11th
Invites
Register
Plan Honeymoon
Marriage License
Tips for vendors
