wedding vendors & details ♥ 84

Dress: from Wedding Belles, Jasmine Couture Bridal Style # T148, navy satin ribbon added


Rings: Frank Jewelers


Clutch: Emma Gordon London
Her Shoes: Navy peeptoe by Caparros


Veil: Cathedral length veil with Swarovski crystals, DIY
Jewelry: earrings by Ann Taylor, pearl necklace *borrowed* from Grandma Luella, sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet a gift from the groom


Suit, Shirt and Tie: by J Crew, Calvin Klein, and Vera Bradley


Ties: by Vera Bradley


His Shoes: Lacoste
His Socks: Gap


Flowers: A Courtyard Florist


Cake: I Do Cakes


Photography: Tim Brown Photography
Wedding Venue: The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort
Wedding Coordinators: Scarlett Starr and Anne Thompson

wtfotos

our wedding photos didn't arrive today as promised.
since my grandma doesn't have the internet, she'll have to wait until christmas to see our wedding proofs.
:(
sometimes you don't get what you pay for.

Destination wedding photos received!

Last night we received our official login for the wedding photos! Yay!

Here's I rated each section:
Web show - A+ these are the photos included in the slideshow from our wedding celebration
Getting Ready - B
Portraits1 - B +
First Sight - A
Ceremony - C This has nothing to do with the "change of venue" but it seems as though many of the important photos are missing from the photo roll, but I'm impressed based on how poor the lighting was...
Portraits2 - B+ the photos on the beach make up for the poor lighting and ties/hair akimbo
Reception - B my *new* aunt and uncle took some spectacular detail shots, I plan on including them in the album we design

Without further ado, the moment you've all been waiting for... drum roll please!


There's no easy way for me to tally the final number of photos, but I'd say 85% are great.
It's the other 15% that are spoiling bunch... for me.

Let me just say how happy I am to be getting the physical photo files and online album after 44 days - I am THRILLED!!

That being said (Curb reference, anyone?), I'm a little disappointed in the final results. It seems like they could have used an extra week to wrap up the job, but I'm not sure that's something I should have offered in my follow-up email last week... "How's it going with our wedding photos? Do you need a deadline extension?"

Okay, I know everyone's their toughest critic, but I'm kind of surprise at the stuff that was overlooked in the finishing of the photos... lack of cropping, glistening beads of sweat cascading down the side of my love's face during our close-up, the "why the heck is this photo included" photos, the absent "presentation of the couple" (maybe the only other photo they have was worse than what's there - IMG_3374, if you're following along), I'll let the slight the farmer's tan lines on my arms go, but the wings of hair and our ring bearer's tie could easily be corrected with the Cloning tool, right?

I'm just going to cherry pick the best photos and make my own album, obvs, but is it within my rights to ask them to clean up the images we want to get printed?

I mean, surely you'll notice these things in the the wall-sized canvases we plan on hang thoughout our entire house and give as gifts to all of our friends and family (just wait until that awkward gift exchange ;) ). But in all seriousness, I will be asking that the photos we want printed be cleaned up. They could really go from good to amazing, that and my free photoshop trial has expired.

Hey, did I tell you that we did a lap around the room since there was no aisle? I thought it was pretty funny/fitting, but those photos aren't really there either... Oh, and thanks for listening!

More photography updates

This whole wedding-photo-thing is becoming quite irritating. I realize we're not anyone's only clients, but we had a tiny-ass wedding. C'mon! I've already sacrificed having personalized thank you's made, but with Thanksgiving next week we're going to have more family together than at Christmas so I NEED the photos in hand!
Tim Brown Photography - Days since event: 40 (6 weeks come Saturday)
They will try to send the photos out Monday so they're received by Wednesday... TOTAL breach of contract btw. I realize they spent time on our slideshow needed within two week of the wedding, but that was in the contract. Plus, there goes my Blurb discount! I just hope the photos arrive in time for Thanksgiving!

Erin Lenore Photography - Days since event: 25
Should be done by the end of next week... Cutting it close if I want to show any family members photos over the holiday. I've gotta give the girl some credit since she's in the middle of midterms.

I'm pretty sure I don't want to play the "beach of contract card" with them, but it's just so frustrating!

What do you think I should do? A request to have the photos guaranteed to arrive Wednesday seems like the nicest option. Thoughts?

Craigslist for Wedding Services

I've had little experience with Craigslist (outside of selling my tv stand) but after researching HD video cameras, lapel microphones, and my future father-in-law/amateur videorapher asking me if I know what he should be doing during the ceremony, I've decided to post a services wanted ad on Craigslist.
I'm hoping that I won't be swindled, but instead I can pay someone to record the sound and ceremony from two different angles and give me a copy. I don't even need them to edit it... I just want to know that they remembered to hit "record."
I'll let you know if the responses come pouring in...

Vendor Review - eIinvite - A

I ordered our Illinois Save the Dates from www.eInvite.com (through Costco.com). As a Costco member you received 25% off your total which made sending STDs affordable and within my budget. The personalization of the interior portion of the order was tricky. You have to play around with the spacing and lines, but I finished the design in about 10 minutes. I was surprised I was able to edit the front of the card and add a line to the design in order to achieve the look I wanted.

When I submitted the order I included special instructions to see a digital proof before printing. I *highly* recommend requesting a digital proof whenever possible! I've avoided catastophes at work and with my own save the dates. I got the proof back within 24 hours (awesome turn around) and within that time we decided to remove the required password from our website. I called customer service before submitting changes to the proof to find out what the cost would be. eInvite was quick to answer my call and to my suprise they don't charge for proof changes! (Most companies charge anywhere from $10-$30 for changes to the design.) I removed the login/password info from the design, submitted the revisions and received our new proof the same day. Amazing.

With the finalized order confirmation the estimated ship date was noted as 7/15, exactly 1 month later. I was bummed but loved the design so I figured it was worth the wait. Fortunately, I received everything much earlier and was able to mail out the STDs on 7/1 (nearly 4 months before the reception) which allows out-of-towners enough time to make arrangements.

Overall, I am very please with my eInvite.com experience; they offer many options (both price and style), great customer service and the turn around time was impressive and the end product is of high quality.

Here's the proof - I took actual photos but haven't uploaded them yet...


Rating: A

Confession: I ordered invitation samples from eInvite loooong before Andy and I were even engaged...

e-photos coming soon!

I got a call last night during my future nephew's birthday party - our photo prints are in! I just have to drive all the way out to the boonies to get them. Don't worry I'll post them as soon as I get them!

a new record!

Apparently Andy and I set a record last Monday at our engagement session - over 400 images! They did their magic and culled it down to about 200.
Tonight we narrowed it down to 150,
then 60,
then 27.
We decided upon 4 portrait prints (1 was free as part of our "package") and a guest book/photo portfolio; then we got the total. At least we weren't the first couple to set a new record with the bill ;)
I'm convincing myself that these photos are an investment and will be gifts to our parents and will eliminate the need for a register of signatures that I'll never do anything with... so a couple birds, a couple stones.

This is completely NOT wedding-related, but I'm still reeling from the event so I feel the need to share (and why I'm up past my bedtime). We've been dog sitting and as part of our duties we stopped by to let Elvis out. The poor little guy was in a dead sleep when we pulled up so we startled him which induced a seizure. Andy held him and I tried to keep him conscious. Luckily, the episode was short (not a grand mal this time) and he came out of it okay. So scary and thankfully his parents came home about an hour after it happened.
Here's a recent photo of little Elvis - keep him in your thoughts:

so here's what happened

I finally connected with our engagement photographer on Monday and she finally sent me the pricing and the same “1980s what-not-to-wear brochure” for the 4th time. I took a serious look at the pricing yesterday and discovered that in addition to NOT selling the digital images they don’t sell their proofs. Their system is this: photo session, photo slideshow @ their studio, order photos from giant slide show on the spot, don’t come back (unless you want to pay $25), photos are mailed 3wks later.

Can you tell I’m not pleased?
Our “gift certificate session” includes the sitting fee and one 4x6 portrait.
So this means we could take hundreds of fabulous photos, in my dress, in jeans, with the dog, etc, but we only walk away with one photo. This one photo is the one that will be printed in the worst quality possible in the newspaper. It's not that I wasn't expecting to pay to have photos, but I wanted all of them to make into a cool guestbook, regardless of digial or printed proofs.

So at the risk of getting my dress dirty, having the dog look like a giant stain on Andy’s lap, or looking like ants sitting on a bridge, we’re just going to show up all “casual” take the head shots and go home.
I am incredibly disappointed. I guess wasted my time on outfits and locations before reading the fine print. Part of me thinks it's silly that I want to spend so much time and money on pictures that aren’t even from our wedding day, but I want to capture us looking “normal” and include the dog since he won’t be invited to the wedding.

Is this me or the wedding machine talking?
We're thinking of having a friend or parent take our photos in those same spots on the cheap… this sounds like a better plan, but I’m not sure that my mom is up to the photojournalistic expectations I have in mind…

four month freak out :: updates

Holy crap, I have so much left to do… and it’s not just the little stuff. Yikes!

To cope, I have made myself a list of things that can be accomplished on my lunch hour:
-Call Trademan Photo to confirm engagement photos – why won’t this woman return my emails?! LEFT MESSAGE
-Book Steven’s flight to/from Georgia (verify there’s enough time between connecting flights) DELTA'S PHONE LINES WERE DOWN?!
- Call in reservations to Lady and Sons DONE-Paula has some strict reservation rules!
-Order STDs for IL – need to confirm digital proof DONE!
-Call bakeries for cupcake quotes

Tonight:
-Get a remaining email addresses for party evite
-Start finalizing address list for STDs
-Figure out what Andy’s wearing for the “formal shot” and try on some shoes because here’s all I’ve got:

and here’s a peek at the casual again:

the florist

I had a great conversation with my florist (who works for my mom) regarding our reception centerpieces. She doesn't have the internets (say what?!) so we have to use my mom as a liaison.

I LOVE this reception's flowers from SMP so I sent the email to my mom and she printed out the photos... and then gave them to the florist.

I will be supplying the vases for the reception so I went to IKEA tonight and picked up these babies up for <$15.

I'm going to send them back to the 'port with my parents and then give my florist a call... find out which vases will work and how many to buy.

Living so close to IKEA is dangerous...

wedding photographer

I have a new wedding photographer - hooray!

Here's the link to his website: Tim Brown Photography

He is a Southern boy and very excited to shoot our wedding. We're going to talk again soon to figure out a photographic timeline for the day, which will help me plan the ceremony and reception.












I'm going to put an ad on Craigslist Savannah for a videographer and see what kind of responses we get... we'll have to wait and see if its in the budget.

Oh, yeah and the Save the Dates still aren't done but I'm getting quotes from professional printers ;)

there goes the harp fund...

Let me just say, the entire point of getting married in SSI, originally, was to save money and have an intimate/fun wedding on the beach.

Keep it small, simple, use their inclusive “elopement package” and then return for the reception/party with friends and extended family. This has been increasingly more difficult with every email from my package photographer.

The photog and I reconnected last night… and now, somehow, we’re now talking about spending $1250 just in photography services. That doesn’t include prints, albums ($400) or videography ($700).

No. Can. Do. I refuse to dump my entire savings on this wedding and WILL NOT go into debt because of it. I do not expect my parents to help me pay for a wedding in a place they’ve never even gone to… but seriously, how the hell am I going to pay for this thing?!

Enter Hallmark:

Everyday since the contest began I have been going to Hallmark.com to win $4000 for the wedding… Now I really fucking need to win.

still no photographers...

It’s a good thing

Today, I am focusing on the good…
My wedding coordinator finally called – she’s 70% certain that I have a photographer and she’s pretty talented!

I was approved for my wedding-only no interest mileage credit card. As soon as it comes I can book our ceremony airfare and buy a ton of Forever stamps.

Tonight, I am going to stop by the health club and sign up for the Bridal Fitness Extreme class. Even though it’s a drive, I hope to make some friends while getting in shape.

I was able to find a compromise with the registry – Kohl’s. Andy hates B,B&B and my mom wanted us to register at an affordable store with more locations. People can still use coupons and I was able to move a lot of the items off of our Macy’s and Crate & Barrel registries over to Kohl’s. Yay!

I got an epic long email from my little brother regarding wedding stuff. He’s more excited about eating at Paul Deen’s than anything else wedding-related – damn, I miss him and can’t blame him!

Got some clever kids' table ideas from blogstalking today – Activity books! Thanks, Heather!

Blurg!

I’m getting the classic bait and switch from my photog/vid couple… Why can’t this just be easy? Back to the epic list of vendors… I’m going to see what the remaining 5 can do for me… Argh!

Photographers and Videographer

Now that’ve picked my colors I MUST secure a photographer for the ceremony in Georgia and the reception in Illinois… plus a GA videographer.
I’ve worked my list down from 81 options to 52 photographers, videographer and combos in both states. I know this is crazy, but I’ve got a system… thank goodness for Google documents!
I have everyone’s location, website, blog, and price point (if available). Now I just need to rate their work. After the ratings I’m going to limit myself to 5 Illinois options and 15 Georgia options… then see who’s actually available. Clearly, I have decision-making issues…

THE list