Dress Sneak Peek

Paul's sister Erin is in town for the week to do dress fitting!  It will only need some minor adjustments, which she will do while Paul and I are both at work on Friday.  I love it so far, and it's only going to get better as it's tucked, hemmed, and beaded.

Detail Sneak Peek....

Cthulhu Cake Toppers

MOH Emily Heck is a genius.
That is all....

This is what happens to ribbon wands in my house...

I caught it! 

This is what 70 ribbon wands look like: 

The Mail box Card box

Tada!  This is our Up-inspired card box.  We made it tonight in about ten minutes.  

Cute, no?

A DIY Checkpoint (In which I panic just a bit)

OK.  Two and a half months to go.  My goal is to have 90% of my DIY done before I drive the 24 hours back to Wisconsin from Utah.  I have the week before the wedding off, but I'd like to spend it relaxing and leisurely finishing a few loose ends that are better suited to doing in the actual state I'm getting married.  I DO NOT want to be one of those brides that's frantically tying ribbons onto things at 2am before the wedding.  Plus, my bridal party is mostly from out of state, and it would be nice to hang out with them on the boat rather than commandeer them into program assembly or some such nonsense.

I've got plenty of time, but a scattered brain.  So, a DIY list!

Ribbon wands: Have all the supplies and 30 are done.  Just need to make, oh, about 40 more. http://paulandellenwedding.blogspot.com/2012/02/gettin-crafty-with-ribbon-wands.html

Card box: Mailbox in the spirit of Ellie and Carl's from Up.  Have the box, have the paint, just need to find a time with Paul to put our hand prints on it. http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254382840026/

Centerpieces: Step-mom has been recruited to grow the herbs, and my little silver pots got sent home with my aunt and uncle two weeks ago.  Wine bottles are being collected by various wino friends and relatives back home.  Need to round up more cheap glass vases, and frost them with frosting spray (purchased).  Have some peacock feathers, need to collect more from work. http://paulandellenwedding.blogspot.com/2012/03/centerpeice-options.html

Invitations: Need to draw a map for the inserts: print, cut, and stuff.  Stamp envelopes, stuff envelopes, address envelopes.  Mail invites by July 15th.  http://paulandellenwedding.blogspot.com/2012/06/invitations-are-complete.html

Table-runners: Mom and aunt are in charge of this. Need to email venue to ask about table size.

Various chalkboard signs: Draw up a list of specific signs.  This one: http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254383079601/  and this one: http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254382932839/  Also some labels for the "Decorate-your-own-sugar-cookie-bar"  Then, find cheap-ass picture frames and paint with chalkboard paint.  This one might have to wait until I get home.

Guest book: Give my friend the canvas so she can paint the Up house on it for me.  (I gave this one up after an ill-fated attempt to do it myself last weekend).  http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254382755307/

Programs: Would love to do something like this: http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254382840035/  Figure out how to do the cover, and then write information for the inside.  Print and assemble.

Thank-You Banner for Pictures: Buy fabric, assemble.  This one's going to be done with fabric glue, 'cuz I've got no motivation to sew:  http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254382335285/

Hand-fasting cords:  Go to fabric store, pick out various ribbons and such, and braid.  This one shouldn't take very long, but it's a matter of finding a time that we can both go.

Ring-book: We don't even have a "ring-bearer" but I LOVE this:  http://pinterest.com/pin/97742254382944054/

HOLY SHIT!  I better get my ass in gear.

Update 7/10: My loverly future sister in law Erin has volunteered to make our handfasting cords.  One less thing to do!  

Dress Sneak Peek

So, I've got a confession that would make many brides shudder....

I have no idea what my dress is going to look like.

Well, that's not entirely true.  I have a pattern, some inspiration photos, and fabric.  But I won't see what the actual dress looks like until Erin brings it with her in August.

I'm not too worried.  I never really had a dress in mind when I pictured myself on my wedding day.  The options for commercial dresses were so vast that I don't think I'd be able to make a decision if I just walked into David's bridal to buy a dress.  In addition, as a plus-sized woman, many of my dress options are also being chosen by other plus-sized girls.  On Offbeat Bride, other woman are posting pictures of themselves at David's trying on dresses.  And about 75% of them are the same ones I tried on.

So getting a custom dress means individuality.  No one else is going to have "my" dress, because it's the only one that exists.  And Erin will make it look good on my body.  And it will have gorgeous fabric.  And even if it doesn't make me cry, it will be a wedding dress that I will wear on my wedding day.

So....sneak peek!

Inspiration Dresses. Love the colors on the left, and the fabric on the right. 

The dress pattern that Erin is working off of. 

 Fabric!  Top right is "anemone" dupioni silk.  Top left is "burned-out velvet", which will be dyed the anemone color.  Bottom is "ivory" dupioni silk the the majority of the dress.  

Invitations are Complete!

A huge thank you to Aunt Peggy and the rest of the Invitation Assembly Group who put them together.  I absolutely love them and am so grateful that I've got crafty relatives who are willing to put in time and effort to help us out with wedding stuff.

They're so pretty!  A little bit of shimmer without being all-out glittery.  I still have to figure out what else we're going to put in that pocket (the card looks a little lonely all by its self).  

Again, huge thank you to everyone!