Save-The-Dates and Other Theme Ideas

Paul and I absolutely adore the movie Up.  There are a number of ways we identify with the movie, but ultimately the love story just resonates with us as a couple.  While we didn't want to go crazy with an entirely Up-themed wedding, we did want to add touches here and there.  Our first project?  Up Save-the-Dates (henceforth to be shortened to STD's, and yes, I'll wait until you finish giggling).  We ordered them from Vista Print last night, so they should be out before the end of March. 

It will be in post-card format.   Ain't it cute?   For those of you who haven't seen the movie, Ellie and Carl have an "Adventure Book" that serves as a bit of a scrapbook for their adventures, both past and future.  Very appropriate, I think, for a wedding.

There are several other subtle Up ideas I've got to continue with the theme.  I'd love to have the programs look like the Adventure Book as well.  Sorta like this:

Our guest book is going to be based on the "fingerprint tree" concept.  Instead of finger prints, guests can sign a balloon and paste it onto this:



The last thing we'd like to do is a card "box" inspired by Carl and Ellie's mailbox. 

We could have gone way crazy with the theme, like this couple.  Although a picnic wedding would have been cute, it's not really something that reflects us as a couple, so it would have felt a little inauthentic.  But some small subtle touches are just right. 



Centerpeice Options

I went to Ikea today looking for a kitchen rug.  I ended up spending an embarrassing amount of time in the "garden" section scoping out centerpiece options.  I have some serious decisions to make, most of them financial. 

My original idea was to do some type of potted herbs.  I love the look of them, and they go with the wedding colors.  But there are logistics to consider.  If I grow 20 pots of herbs myself, I'll have to find somewhere in our apartment to grow them.  The only window space we have is occupied by the snake tank.  Then I'll have to drive said herb pots across the country. 

So at Ikea, they've got fake herb pots.  For $6 apiece.  That's $120 on fake plants that I won't use after the wedding (but could potentially sell?). 

However, those little pots would save me a whole mess of hassle.  Unless someone wants to grow them for me?  *hint hint*

There were two different pot options for the fake plants.  A metal pot for $1 apiece and white ones for $3 apiece:

The white ones are cute, but the metal ones are cheaper. 

I also found some sweet rectangle vases.  The tall ones are $8 and the short ones are $4

This is the overall vision I was crafting in the Ikea.  The blue vase in the background is a stand-in for the blue wine bottles mentioned in a previous post.  They will be holding the peacock feathers. 

Tall vase with white pot

Metal pot with short vase

I also have a crafty idea to frost those clear glass vases, so keep that in mind as well.  The vases can hold candles (I've already got about 50 battery-operated tea lights).  Although, there was one other alternative use for the vases - fake orchids:

Even more money for more fake flowers....

So I have several decisions to make:

A) Is it worth it to spend $6 apiece on fake herbs? 

B) Metal or white pots?

C) Short vase or tall?

D) Does this entire set up look to disjointed?  I personally love the variation of shapes and textures, but I can see how this wouldnt' necessarily "go" together. 





Please share your opinions!



Wedding Shoes

For wedding shoes, I decided to go with a pair of white crocheted Toms. 

They are slightly too big.  This style runs a half-size bigger than normal Toms, but alas, they don't make 10 1/2.  So I got the 11, and it will be fine.  They aren't really "white", but "natural" which is fine because A) my dress isn't going to be snow white and B) the dress is long and so most people won't be seeing my shoes much anyway.

I decided to go with comfy flats because I don't want to be taller than Paul, and there's only a 2" height difference.  Second, while I love the look of heels, I've never been comfortable in them. I wanted something I could wear all day without having to kick them off ten minutes into dinner.  And lastly, I'll wear these all summer long for several years to come...making the $60 price tag a little more justifiable.