What?! No Rehearsal?

Um, that was not a typo. And, again, for those who missed it: we are not having a rehearsal. It made my muscles tense just to type that. But, I am forced to let it go. And here's why.

Mr. CB is anti-wedding rehearsal. The one thing he's been pulling for this entire time is not a playlist, a particular band, suit or tie. It's not an item on our menu or even a particular beer.

It's that our wedding feel as organic as possible.

The last thing he wants is for the ceremony to feel like a production or a staged show. While I've never been to a wedding rehearsal, he's been to many and, as someone who's older and (okay, I'll give it to him) wiser, he's taking the final say on this one.

Yes, I see the merit in a rehearsal. It's a chance for people to shake their nerves off, to run through everything just to have a general gist of how it's going to play out. It's not like everyone has blocking tape and scripted lines. But, no matter how much I try to gently cajole Mr. CB into feeling the same way, he doesn't. He views them as a waste of time during which the bride stresses out and everyone stands around listening to her berate everyone. Man, he must've come across some bridezillas.

So, I'm gonna hand it to him: The freedom to escape a 15-minute rehearsal. And, no, I'm not going to run through it with everyone without him there either. (Even if I got extremely jealous of how well Mrs. Peep Toe's went and would follow her instructions completely!).

Lucky for me, I have an aunt who is also into all-things-organic. She's incredibly spiritual, a massage therapist, and great at making lemonade out of lemons. Her husband, my uncle, is officiating. So, of course, I mentioned to her that we weren't going to have a rehearsal. She saw the sunny side of things and told me not to worry, that the ceremony will just be very raw and real. We won't have been through it before so we are going to feel the transition of it all. And that's a good thing. Because what we want is to really feel what we are doing--committing our lives to each other.

Am I worried a bridesmaid will walk the wrong way? That our transition from song to tradition will not run as smoothly? No. It might happen and I'm okay with it. Partially because I'll create a very thorough set of instructions for everyone, let people know beforehand who they are paired up with and make sure our singers (my aunt and grandmother) know when they are singing. From there? I'll let my uncle take the reins.

How do you feel about us not having a rehearsal? Do you see the value in a raw ceremony or is a run-through a necessity?

Copying Miss Apple Cider

That's right. It's so obvious, I made it my title. After seeing Miss Apple Cider's post on her DIY out-of-town bags, I got right down to it. I'd been conflicted over where to find cheap, bulk bags to use for this project. The best ones I had seen were at Hobby Lobby--brown paper with handles for .50 cents per bag.

But then, Miss Apple Cider came along and introduced the hive to muslin bags from this website. I followed suit and ordered 50 5" x 8" bags.

They were a little smaller than I was expecting--I guess I hadn't really thought about what 5" x 8" meant--but they would have to do. Plus, the fact that they are smaller means it's harder for them to look empty (i.e. I don't have to put as much stuff in them!). We're planning on including a welcome note, a weekend's schedule, a locally-made lip balm and a thing of homemade granola.

To decorate the bags, I also went Miss Apple Cider's route, but I had planned on stamping the bags prior to reading her post. I'd made a custom stamp of Mr. Cowboy Boot's horse that he drew for our save-the-dates from Simon Stamps.

Then, I skipped over to Hobby Lobby where I purchased a heart stamp as well as the stamp that reads "LOVE". Oh, and a few stamp pads.

Total cost of project (including shipping from ordering online):

Bags: $26.10

Custom Horse Stamp: $15

Stamps and Ink Pads: $17

Total: $58.10

Lucky for me, we plan on using the stamps elsewhere like on our note to our guests and on signage around the reception.

Did you DIY your OOT bags?

The Count, As It Stands Now

Things aren't always as you predict. I'm just learning this now. I'm an optimistic person by nature so when we sent out our 64 invitations to a total of 145 people, I figured our head count numbers would settle in somewhere between 90 and 100. That's a low 62-68% of our guest list checking the "accepts with pleasure" box.

Just a reminder of where that 'lil stamped card goes

(source)

Take into account the fact that our wedding is a destination wedding for, oh, 99.9% of our guests. I have one bridesmaid and her boyfriend who live within a two-hour drive of the wedding. Everyone else is either a seven-hour drive or a two- to three-hour flight away. That makes it a trek for practically all parties involved. Then, factor in the lovely economy and it's oh-so-tough ways at the moment. Let's just say money is not a-flowing.

Our deadline for our RSVPs is September 1st. Tuesday. As of now we have 21 yes cards totaling 40 rarin'-to-go guests. Yippeeeee! What about our "no" stack? 10 cards with a total of 24 guests "declining with regrets." Of course, I also deducted "plus ones" from the "yes" stack for those who declined to indulge in such a treat. Similar to the lovely Ms. Stiletto, we gave all of our single guests the option of bringing someone and, also similar to Ms. Stiletto, many of our guests are opting out of bringing a companion.

That leaves of looking in the mailbox everyday (quite eagerly, I might add) for the additional 33 RSVP cards. Out of those 33 cards, I can safely say there will be 18 more guests to add to our head count which puts us up around 60.

Knowing that we'll most likely end up with a guest list that's lower than our initial guesstimate is okay with me. Of course I'd be happy if all 145 guest had responded with their plane's arrival time and hotel reservations--we wouldn't have invited them if we didn't want them to come--but somehow, a smaller guest list makes things feel a smidgen more manageable.

The upside--and this is going to sound odd--is that we have a food-and-beverage minimum. And, if we don't think we'll hit that minimum, we might be able to bring that margarita back into the picture.

[NOTE TO GUESTS: You are more important than the margarita. Please check yes and hand that card to your postman. Tomorrow.]

Did your guest list turn out like you planned? What percentage of your guests are you expecting?

Booking the Band

Since I've been on a music kick lately with our playlists, I figured I should fill you in on how we booked our band. We listened to many, many bands before finally settling and signing a contract. With the goal in mind that we wanted a bluegrass band, we initially turned to our favorite, the Infamous Stringdusters.

But a few quick e-mails proved them to be too expensive at $7,500 plus the cost of a production assistant. They are, after all, Nashville's hottest.

I started asking around. A co-worker connected me with the owner of Planet Bluegrass, a venue that holds bluegrass festivals year-round. A solid list of bands was recommended but none that really struck a chord (hehe) with us.

A bride who'd gotten married at Devil's Thumb Ranch on our date the year before had hired local, snowboarder, bluegrass musicians, Hunker Down. I liked them because they were fun and young and would be appealing to a broad audience. One of my worries is that our guests (90% of which are coming from Los Angeles and New York State and probably don't listen to much bluegrass) won't have fun with our band. But, Mr. CB just couldn't get into it.

We listened to great traditional acts like Sweet Sunny South and Spring Creek, but neither was quite right. Too slow? I'm not sure. They just didn't fit.

Eventually, I used Mrs. Joey's famous craigslist advice and advertised our need for a band on the 'net. The responses started flowing in (we'd advertised a budget of $1,000) and soon we had a plethora of bands to pick from.

Our faves?

Victor Barnes Insurgent Bluegrass

Acoustic Mining Company

Mountain Standard Time

Head for the Hills

The Humminbirds

After listening to all of them, though, we still couldn't find one that we really wanted to play our reception. Early on, as I mentioned, I asked friends who knew the bluegrass scene in Colorado. One band had been recommended to me and I loved them, but I thought they'd be too expensive. They're called Elephant Revival. Sure enough, their prices were pretty much double what we could pay.

Maybe the benefit of having our wedding on a Sunday is that it is a day that most of our vendors don't make anything. That means they're willing to work for less.

Whatever the reason, we asked and Elephant Revival agreed. They were willing to work within our budget. It just goes to show you that asking never hurts.

Here's my favorite song by them, although this rendition is a little slower than when they have the full five- to six-piece band.

They are going to play for half an hour while everyone gets seated at the ceremony, they'll play the processional and then, again, for three hours during the reception. Any, they're learning our first dance song, Harvest Moon by Neil Young, for us.

How did you find your band? What kind of band did you book? Or are you getting music to your wedding in some other form?

The Accessories

I'm stuck. I just can't seem to find a pair of earrings that wants to work with my accessories, that I like, and that feels unique. In short, I'm looking for a pair of earrings that isn't necessarily bridal. That said, I also want a pair of earrings that is bridal. Now you're confused, right? Me too.

Here's a snapshot of my accessories as they stand now (the floral, silk belt from J. Crew is still pending until I can try it with my dress):

Vintage Clutch, Muscari Designs Hair Flower, J. Crew Belt, and Kate Spade Shoes

Here are the earrings I have already tried that didn't work:

Crystal Fireball and Pearl Drop Earrings from Carolee ($40)

Floral Crystal and White Simulated Pearl Teardrop Pierced Earrings from Carolee ($75)

Large CZ Flower Stud Earrings from Carolee ($95)

Crystal Cluster Earrings by Etsy seller K. Garner Designs ($32)

As of now, I have a pair of cream- and blush-colored pearl clusters on silver. One of my maid-of-honors has offered to lend me a pair of platinum-and-diamond hoops with a small dangle charm, and I also have these (below) by Etsy seller Jurgita Handmade.

Luka Swarovski Crystal Earrings ($27)

I'm not swooning over any of them, but then again, I haven't had the full outfit on to give it a whirl. I won't get this opportunity until a few days before the wedding so I'm prepared to come armed with plenty of options.

If I had all the money in the world (or a budget over $100), I might go for something from the antique store from which I bought my wedding band.

Diamond and Pear-Shape Aquamarine ($2,875)

14K YG Rose Cut Diamond Flower ($1,195)

10K YG & Rose Cut Diamond Cluster ($275)

So, hive, I turn to you for advice. First, do I wear silver or gold in terms of color? Pearl or faux-diamond (as I can't afford the real thang, unless I borrow)? Any earrings you suggest that you've seen? Help me, please.

A Bee's Life: Miss Cowboy Boot's Turn

Thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and join in on this series. Here's my story.

How I Found Blogs

My days in the blogosphere started about three years ago, the summer after college. Blogs became a presence in my life during my first internship that summer at Food & Wine. I worked in online for the magazine and one of my tasks involved sifting through the vast 'sphere of food blogs that were out there (it was actually vast for the pre-historic days of blogs) and picking the top ten posts of the week. This was probably my favorite thing to do at work because it involved reading blogs. All. Day. Long. Which were my faves? Chocolate & Zucchini, Becks & Posh, Le Tartine Gourmande, Movable Feast, My Marrakesh, and The Amateur Gourmet. "Blogging" was just becoming a vital addition to magazine websites and Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure (both owned by Amex Publishing) were kicking off their own editor blogs. And with much trepidation to begin with. Nobody quite knew what the voice should sound like, who should blog, how to identify the editor blogging, and if each editor should have their own beat (wine, dessert, cooking, recipes, etc). Blogs were still fuzzy when it came to talking to an audience. At least an audience as big as a magazine's readership which can reach into the millions.

And Then The Blogging Began

At first, I wasn't quite sure what to write about. I'd created an account on Blogger and wanted to write service-oriented content with an anecdotal side, much like magazine articles do very well. I'd majored in personal essay in college and wanted to inflect that in my blog. It was a way to get me writing again. I was very interested in writing about things that were almost hippie-ish (hiking, yoga, all-natural and organic food) but were also quite preppy and popular at the time (they still are), thus the name of my blog: Almost Crunchy. I wrote about New York City and ways to escape it's hustle and bustle. I wrote about Hawaii, where I lived, global warming, Earth Day, and finally, our foodie-based road trip through the South when we moved from New York City to Santa Fe. And that's where it ended. When I lived in New York City, I didn't have a release like hiking and paddling. I had a lot of pent up energy that siphoned its way out of my body through my fingertips onto the keyboard. But when I got to Santa Fe, any extra time and energy was devoted to the forest, the lakes, the trails and my dogs. Until...Weddingbee came along.

Becoming a Bee

I never read wedding blogs or magazines or anything wedding-related before getting engaged. None of my friends are married or even close to it and I'd only been to two weddings since I was old enough to care about them even a smidgen so my knowledge of weddings, the traditions, and all-of-the-above, was minimal (to say the least). I believe the term was "wedding blog." Yep, that's what I typed into Google and Weddingbee was the first to pop up. I loved it, checked back often, never followed any one Bee in particular but was thoroughly impressed by the DIY projects that the Bees blogged about. I was caught off guard by people having stashes of crafting tools in their homes from previous projects. I guess the craftiest I've ever been was putting together a scrap book (no, wait, make that three) of pictures, bus tickets, train receipts, and museum pamphlets from my semester abroad in Italy. Either way, I applied. I saw blogging on Weddingbee as a way to start writing again--these Bees sure are eloquent and I liked the challenge of trying to be as writerly. I started my application on Almost Crunchy. I wrote for two weeks on all-things-weddings and e-mailed the requirements in. The acceptance e-mail was in my inbox within two days! Yiippppeeeeee!!!! I came home and told Mr. CB (who was not Mr. CB just yet) that I was a Bee!!!

The Roadblock

At this point, Mr. CB and I were deep in the application process of becoming a feature in Martha Stewart Weddings. I've already blogged about this and, to not bore you with the details, you can read about it here. In short, the magazine wouldn't let me post my details across the blogosphere (which had grown to a quite powerful, widely read thing that this point, obviously) if they wanted to feature us. The opportive word here is if. They were far from giving us an answer and I was ready to share, share, share. In a way that would be meaningful to me. So, Weddingbee it was.

A Day In The Life

I wish I could say that blogging for Weddingbee has been as rewarding as writing for my personal blog. But, as the famous saying goes, "It's not you, it's me." I love getting comments from readers, sharing my details, and being an active member of this awesome community. But I never get to spend as much time and brain power on these posts as I used to when I wrote for Almost Crunchy. My job, now, is much more demanding. I work on the editorial side of a national men's glossy magazine and, so, my entire day is spent crafting words, paring them down, staring at a computer screen, blogging for work and talking, talking, talking about content. At the end of the day, I'm tired, and very rarely find that creative spark that gets imparted on some of my better posts. And, unlike Ms. Mary Jane, I write all of my posts in one sitting. The ideas I get excited about and want to devote hours to get held until the weekend, when I can spend two hours or more writing them (like this one). The less-impressive posts happen during the week, within about half an hour. And, I feel like my best ideas come in a flash and end up on screen within an hour (even if I'm at my desk at work, shhhh). I just get SO excited to share them with you.

Overall, Weddingbee has been worth every word, thought, and ounce of energy I've put into it. Everyone here is generous with their thoughts, words of advice, virtual hugs of support, and got-your-back attitude. It's touching how, when a negative comment shows up (and they rarely do), a reader or Bee will step in and stand up for you in a heartbeat. Heck, it's hard to find real friends who are so committed. It will be a blessing--and worth more than being in Martha Stewart Weddings--to have all of you "there" with me as I walk up to the aisle. What a way to document this experience--it's been worth more-than-words.

Now that this post is novel-length, I'll let you stop reading.

Playlists, Playlists Part 2

My last post gave you a preliminary look at our wedding playlist--from cocktail hour, to dinner, to breaks between band sets, and to our dance party. I combed through the suggestions all of you mentioned and surfed the 'net a little more and definitely came across a few winners. By my drive home from work, I had to turn the radio off, I'd listened to so many songs on YouTube by then.

In case you were wondering which of your suggestions made the cut (or just wanting some inspiration for your own playlist), here are our additions to the music of the night (yes, that's a Phantom of the Opera reference)...

Cocktail Hour

Ocean Breathes Salty - Iron Horse (Modest Mouse bluegrass cover)

Breakdown - Jack Johnson and Handsome Boy Modeling School

Sky - Joshua Radin featuring Ingrid Michaelson

We Are Going to be Friends - White Stripes

Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung

Quiet Town - Josh Rouse

5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale

Valerie - Amy Winehouse

You Don't Know Me - Ben Folds featuring Regina Spektor

In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry

Love You Madly - Cake

The Underdog - Spoon

It Ain't Me Babe - Johnny Cash and June Carter

Dinner

If Everything Fell Quiet - The Reindeer Section

Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab for Cutie

Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

Trailer Trash - Iron Horse

Fidelity - Regina Spektor

All I Want Is You - Juno

Be Be Your Love - Rachael Yamagata

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

Love That Girl - Raphael Saadiq

Say - John Mayer

Let It Be Me - Ray Lamontagne

Precious Love - James Morrison

My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone

Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight

Arms of a Woman - Amos Less

Band Breaks

Think of Me - Rosi Golan

I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin

All Over Again - Johnny Cash

Sweet Pea - Amos Lee

Float On - Iron Horse

Dance Party

Bruises - Chairlift

Feel Good Inc - Gorillaz

Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti and Spearhead

Beggin' - Madcon

Mercy (Remix) - Duffy featuring The Game

Rehab (Remix) - Amy Winehouse featuring Jay-Z

Please Mr. Postman - The Marvalettes

Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

We're still short in our dinner playlist as well as our dance party. And we want to groove for that last hour of our reception. Give us your suggestions!

Playlists, Playlists

While we've hired a bluegrass band to play for three hours of our reception (more on that soon) and we also have a friend who's going to strum his guitar during our cocktail hour, there are a few interim hours during which we'll need to keep our guests musically entertained. For instance, if our friend gets tired, we'll need a cocktail hour playlist. We need a dinner playlist, a playlist for when the brand takes their 10-minute breaks, and some dance music for post-band antics.

I've also padded either end of our playlists with more music than we need just in case our ceremony is shorter than we think or some other party-foul occurs.

Here's what we've come up with so far:

Cocktail Hour (1.5 hours of music)

Little Red Corvette - Mike Zito (3:53)

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol (4:07)

Resurrection Fern - Iron & Wine (4:50)

Over the Rainbow - Brotha Iz (3:38)

Jackson - Johnny Cash and June Carter (2:46)

Such Great Heights - Postal Service (4:29)

Chocolate - Snow Patrol (3:43)

Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson (3:06)

Call Me Papa - Donavon Frankenreiter (3:45)

Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse (3:55)

You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder (2:57)

Good to Be In Love - Frou Frou (3:33)

Stickshifts and Safety Belts - Cake (2:08)

Simple Man - Lynard Skynard (5:58)

Strawberry Swing - Coldplay (4:15)

Total Time: 57:03

Dinner (2 hours of music)

At Last - Etta James (2:53)

Come Away With Me - Norah Jones (3:20)

Tamacun - Rodrigo y Gabriela (3:23)

Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton (2:34)

First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes (3:02)

Volare - Gypsy Kings (3:39)

Brown-Eyed Girl - Van Morrison (3:03)

Turn Me On - Norah Jones (2:36)

Georgia on my Mind - Ray Charles (4:41)

Pink Moon - Nick Drake (1:59)

Green Eyes - Coldplay (3:48)

Hearbeats - Jose Gonzalez (2:48)

Homeward Bound - Greensky Bluegrass (5:09)

Something Good This Way Comes - Jakob Dylan (3:37)

Love of My Life - Carlos Santana and Dave Matthews (6:29)

Total: 53:01

Band Breaks (45 minutes of music)

Lucky One - Alison Krauss (3:06)

More Love - Dixie Chicks (5:04)

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon (4:34)

Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root (4:04)

Wildflower - Kasey Chambers (4:08)

House That Never Was - Kasey Chambers (4:00)

Reverend - Greensky Bluegrass (5:01)

Old Barns - Greensky Bluegrass (4:29)

Fork In The Road - Infamous Stringdusters (3:52)

When You Feel It - Brett Dennen

Total: 38:42

Dance Party (1.5 minutes of music)

You Are The Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne (3:30)

City of Angels - Ozomatli (3:16)

Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield (2:25)

99 Luftballoons - Nena (4:06)

Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (3:03)

Just Like Music - Eric Sermon (4:20)

The Seed (2.0) - The Roots (4:21)

Gold Digger - Kanye West (3:46)

I Want You Back - Jackson 5 (2:55)

Ghetto Superstar - Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard (4:11)

Can't Help Falling in Love With You - Elvis Presley (1:56)

Maggie May - Rod Stewart (5:47)

Kids - MGMT (4:35)

Poker Face - Lady Gaga (3:52)

Say My Name - Destiny's Child (4:03)

Breath - Blu Cantrell (3:47)

Crazy in Love - Beyonce Knowles (3:55)

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

Total: 1:03:42

As you can see, I'm short on music in quite a few places. Our cocktail hour is quite the smattering of music right now and could use a little pick-me-up if you ask me. What type of music do you think should be played at a cocktail hour? Song requests?

Dinner feels pretty smooth, but we could use a few more oldies but goodies.

While the band takes breaks, I'd like to keep the music in the bluegrass/country genre just so we don't go from a bluegrass band to Jay-Z. Any suggestions for easy-listening, maybe some dancing country or bluegrass?

Our dance party could also use some stellar tunes. What makes you move?

What to wear to The After Party?

My dress doesn't call for much in the department of underthings. A simple pair of undies and that's about it. Even if it did, most supportive undergarments aren't the most desirable in the bedroom anyway.

A quick scan of Nordstrom's lingerie department led my eye to one particular rack: Elle Macpherson Intimates. Sure, they aren't full get-ups. They're bras and undies adorned with lace, see-through mesh, and all things girly and frilly. To put it more simply, they're plain old pretty.

Unfortunately, they didn't have my size in the one matching set I liked, but I once I got home, my internet search revealed so much more than what the store contained. First of all, these aren't as pricey as, say, Agent Provocateur. And, not that I need it, but these come in sizes up to E for girls with what Bruschetta would call Beefsteak-size ladies. Check out these adorable sets:

Infatuation Contour Bra ($80)

Macpherson also has a boudoir line that's even more frilly and beautiful than her regular bras and undies:

Boudoir Contour Bra (On sale from $130 to $39)

Boudoir Lace Thong (On sale from $55 to $16.50)

Dentelle Underwire Bra and Thong ($65 for bra)

Go to her website and you'll really see how gorgeous the detailing on these pieces is including pearls, lace, and ruffles.

(source)

What did I order? Her Artistry set in Jet Black. (Good thing Mr. CB never checks Weddingbee).

(source)

Artistry Jet Contour Bra and Culottes ($100 for the set)

Did you buy lingerie for the "after party"? Any suggestions?

Easy As Pie

"Nom. Nom. Nom." That's my new favorite phrase as of late on Weddingbee. It's been showing up in almost every post about food, from any bee, and that's why I had to use the ubiquitous phrase here today. Because I want to talk about pie. Soooo, nom, nom, nom.

Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust from Martha Stewart

We've placed our pie bar order with Teacup Bakery out of Denver. Twelve all-organic, all-natural pies. Ten flavors. That's right. It's become somewhat of a tasting pie bar. Originally, we'd ordered just enough pie for each guest to have one slice. But now that we'll be running the gamut from lemon meringue to mixed berry, I know people will want to taste more than one flavor. Especially when they're sitting there so tantalizingly for the entire dinner on their pretty and mismatched cake stands.

Pie Bar by Lyndsey Hamilton Events

So, we're having each pie cut into 12, instead of 8, slices. Our flavors include: pumpkin, apple caramel (yes, with homemade caramel drizzled on top), chocolate cream, banana cream, mixed berry, peach, blueberry peach, blueberry, cherry, and apple. The fruit will be bought fresh from the farmer's market in Denver late this summer and then frozen when it's at its peak, so it's prime for our pies.

Apple Raisin Pandowdy from Martha Stewart

As if I didn't have enough on my plate already, reader GaBGal added another slice to the pie. Literally. Check out this adorable tutorial she sent me for pie pops from Bakerella.

Pie Pops from Bakerella

I'm tempted to bake these, cart them eight hours up to Devil's Thumb Ranch, and toss them in our guests out-of-town bags as a preview to our meal. Or, maybe this could be their favor?

Do I dare? I'd love some tips: How would I transport them? Would they need to be frozen? How would you package them? And, finally, tell me about your edible favor?

Hair Trial: The Real Thing

Hive. I've found her. The magic maker (aka hair stylist) who will make my hair look like the things of my inspiration pictures. I teetered between a bun, a side pony, half-up, or completely down and curly. But Candace Post from Hot Heads Salon walked off the see-saw and left me teetering no more. I'm heavily decided that I'll be doing a side bun. And I'm pretty positive you'll be convinced too.

Here's the before picture (my bangs seriously need a trim here):


Then she curled it, to give me volume on top (she succeeded, obviously). She put Velcro curlers in and set me under the drier. The last hair dresser teased my hair and used a curling iron.


Next she started made a side ponytail and began to twist my hair around itself.


And...Ta Da! She made a three-fold bun, meaning she wrapped three pieces of my hair in three different directions creating this woven knot. And, stuck my Muscari hair flowers in it.


Also, the hair on top (over the crown of my head) will be smoothed out on the big day.


This is how it looks from the side without the bun or flower. We all felt it needed a little texture or something to make it less plain. Candace wants to put a braid or a twist coming from down near my neck into the bun or possibly from the top of my head. I agree it needs something and I'm liking the idea of a braid.


Here are a few more pictures of it in better light.


My bangs will be shorter and not so heavy. Also, we talked about having the side bun for the ceremony and being able to pull out a few bobby pins to create a side pony for the ceremony. A few hours after my trial I pulled the bun down into a pony tail only to find a rat's nest of hair spray and crunchy, tangled, frizzy curls. So, I don't think I'll go that route.

But I love the side bun so much, I kind of want to keep it the whole night.

Did you have multiple hair trials with different stylists? What style are you wearing?

DOC Duties

This weekend, I jumped on the bandwagon. I hired a DOC. For many, many months, I thought I could enlist friends to decorate, instruct, delegate, and deliver but then I got worried. I'd already sent e-mails to the appropriate friends who gladly accepted their duties: "Just tell me what to do and I will help!" One said. "Whatever floats the bridal boat!" was another's response. I had ready and willing workers but it didn't ease my nerves. I thought of Pengy's post, "DOC-less and regretful." I thought of the big day and how I'd have to remember to create all of the detailed instructions and remember to tell them to do things and all of a sudden, I wasn't off the hook for that day. As I would be if I had a DOC. 

The wedding sales girl at Devil's Thumb Ranch had mentioned a fairly new DOC (actually, she's been in business for four years) who might be less expensive than some of the more established, local coordinators. I e-mailed her right away. Danielle Odil at Something Classic Events had a few packages but even the most basic seemed like more than we needed. 

Here's an outline of their most basic package, entitled Something Borrowed:

Pre-Wedding Day

•       Three (3) in-person meetings

•       Unlimited contact via phone and email from the time of contract

•       Monthly e-mail “check-ins” to ensure the planning is running smoothly and on track

•       Creation of a detailed timeline and schedule for vendors to ensure everyone’s on the same page

•       Unlimited referrals for remaining wedding vendors

•       Review vendor contracts

•       Confirm arrangements; check delivery date, arrival times, quantities of rentals, etc of all vendors. A detailed timeline will be sent one week before your wedding day

•       Etiquette advisement, as requested

•       Create a planning checklist so nothing is forgotten before the big day

•       Confirm all wedding vendors

1^st Meeting - Free Initial Consultation

•       Obtain overall vision and details of wedding

•       Discuss specific needs and expectations

•       Identifying objectives and advising accordingly

 

2^nd Meeting - On-site walk-through (approximately 6 weeks before wedding)

•       Visit ceremony and reception site

•       Meet with site coordinator and/or catering manager

•       Discuss Ceremony Processional & Recessional Plans

 

3^rd Meeting - “Wrap-Up” Meeting (approximately 2-3 weeks before wedding)

•       Confirm vendor information and contracts

•       Review final wedding details and tie up any loose ends

•       Finalize and review detailed timeline

•       Review and proof BEO (Banquet Event Order) provided by catering manager

•       Confirmation of wedding vendors

Wedding Rehearsal

•       Coordinate ceremony rehearsal

•       Per request, distribute personal wedding day itinerary to wedding party (i.e. when & where to show up for pictures, time of hair & make-up etc.)

•       Collect final payments for vendors

•       Collect wedding day items such as marriage license, guest book, cake knife, pictures, toasting flutes, favors, candles, programs, place cards, cake knife, etc.

 

Wedding Day

•       Unlimited time on the day of the event, complete wedding day coordination from set-up to tear down

•       Manage the flow and timing of the entire day

•       Act as a liaison between wedding party, family members, and vendors

•       Use of extensive Bridal Emergency Kit. We’ll be ready and available to solve any unexpected situation or emergencies

 

Ceremony

·       Distribute bouquets and pin flowers on attendants

·       Ensure the bride and groom do not see each other prior to the ceremony (if requested)

·       Assist photographer in gathering wedding party and family members for pictures, if needed

·       Greet vendors and oversee set-up of ceremony by vendors

·       Direct photographer, videographer, musicians, rentals, florist, etc. of where to set-up

·       Set-up of all ceremony décor not handled by a specific vendor (i.e. guestbook, unity candles, programs, pictures, etc.)

·       Distribute final payments and gratuities as needed

·       Direct Ushers with program and seating distribution

·       Cue band/DJ for entrance of processional & Brides entrance

·       Line up and cue wedding party for ceremony

·       Preparation of Bride before walking down the aisle – taking any gum, arranging the veil and train, providing a shot of vodka– whatever is needed by the bride

·       Greet and instruct guests that arrive late

·       Ensure that the marriage license is signed & wedding rings are present

·       Collect all personal wedding items and gifts and deliver to reception site or designated person

 

Reception

•       Set-up of all reception décor not handled by a specific vendor (i.e. favors, menus, candles, cake knife, toasting flutes, escort and place card, gifts, table design, disposable cameras, etc.)

•       Assure venue is set up according to floor plans/Manage vendor set-up of reception

•       Line up and cue Bride, Groom and wedding party for Grand Entrance

•       Assist band or DJ in cueing important events (i.e. grand entrance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, dances, etc.)

•       Cut Bride and Groom for all important events

•       Maintain & coordinate timeline for all events during reception

•       Stay in communication with banquet staff to ensure things are going smoothly

•       Coordination with getaway transportation, making sure they are on time and in the right location

•       Collect personal wedding items and deliver to on-site bridal suite or to clients allocated responsible party

•       Assure all rental items are packaged up and venue is left in good condition 

I asked her if I could make a custom package. I slashed quite a few things and narrowed it down to a) the things we need and b) a few extras that would nice for us to have if she could throw them in within our budget. 

Here's the Cowboy Boot package (I've bolded the things we marked as necessary):

Pre-Wedding Day

•       Unlimited contact via phone and email from the time of contract

•       Monthly e-mail “check-ins” to ensure the planning is running smoothly and on track

•       Creation of a detailed timeline and schedule for vendors to ensure everyone’s on the same page

•       Confirm arrangements; check delivery date, arrival times, quantities of rentals, etc of all vendors. A detailed timeline will be sent one week before your wedding day

•       Create a planning checklist so nothing is forgotten before the big day

•       Confirm all wedding vendors

1^st Meeting - Free Initial Consultation

•       Obtain overall vision and details of wedding

•       Discuss specific needs and expectations

•       Identifying objectives and advising accordingly

Wedding Day

•       Unlimited time on the day of the event, complete wedding day coordination from set-up to the reception gets going (around 8pm)

•       Manage the flow and timing of the entire day

•       Act as a liaison between wedding party, family members, and vendors

•       Use of extensive Bridal Emergency Kit. We’ll be ready and available to solve any unexpected situation or emergencies

Ceremony

·       Distribute bouquets and pin flowers on attendants

·       Assist photographer in gathering wedding party and family members for pictures, if needed

·       Greet vendors and oversee set-up of ceremony by vendors

·       Direct photographer, videographer, musicians, rentals, florist, etc. of where to set-up

·       Set-up of all ceremony décor not handled by a specific vendor (i.e. guestbook, unity candles, programs, pictures, etc.)

·       Distribute final payments and gratuities as needed

·       Cue band/DJ for entrance of processional & Brides entrance

·       Line up and cue wedding party for ceremony

·       Preparation of Bride before walking down the aisle – taking any gum, arranging the veil and train, providing a shot of vodka– whatever is needed by the bride

·       Greet and instruct guests that arrive late

·       Ensure that the marriage license is signed & wedding rings are present

·       Collect all personal wedding items and gifts and deliver to reception site or designated person

 

Reception

•       Set-up of all reception décor not handled by a specific vendor (i.e. favors, menus, candles, cake knife, toasting flutes, escort and place card, gifts, table design, disposable cameras, etc.)

•       Assure venue is set up according to floor plans/Manage vendor set-up of reception

•       Assist band or DJ in cueing important events (i.e. grand entrance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, dances, etc.) and making sure band and photographer are fed

•       Cut Bride and Groom for all important events

•       Maintain & coordinate timeline for all events during reception

•       Stay in communication with banquet staff to ensure things are going smoothly

•       Collect personal wedding items and deliver to on-site bridal suite or to clients allocated responsible party

I met with Danielle yesterday and I'm convinced she's the right person for us. She was put to the test off the bat when we got lost trying to get to her. She gave us very simple, easy directions from where we were and we found her. We had less time than we thought so she ushered us through the initial visit, asking us about our DIY projects and finding out what she needed to ask our venue. She's done quite a few weddings there already and has more this summer so it's nice to know she's familiar with our venue.

I asked bride and bride again, should I hire a DOC? Every single one never skipped a beat. Yes. You won't be sorry. You definitely should. I still had trouble hearing it. But now, I am so relieved and all of my friends who offered to help can relax with me.

Did you hire a DOC? Are you on the fence?