I'm going today with BM Libra and BM Law to add more items to our registry. That got me thinking about this post I wrote, but never got around to posting. Maybe... ahem... because I still haven't done my post on the first trip to the registry with Momma Kettle and Mr. Kettle.
I looked up our registry info to confirm our China selection to comment on one of Miss Teacup's posts. It turns out there are three, count them, three grooms with Mr. Kettle's exact name getting married in the next 6 months.
To my bride brain, this was ridiculously funny. Don't ask why. I texted Mr. Kettle to see if he was secretly a polygamist. It wouldn't be so secret since he used the same name, but I found it hilarious. It's nice to have the escapes from all the serious things that must be considered and mulled over in the wedding world.
What would you do if you found out your fiance was a polygamist? Sounds like a Lifetime movie, right?
Well, Mr. Kettle did confess to being a polygamist and didn't seem too upset that I'd caught him. It's not like he was trying real hard to hide it. If you knew him at all, you'd know this was his oddball humor. I love his sense of humor and we had a hearty laugh over it.
But it got me to thinking about non-traditional marriages. I know polygamy isn't America's thing, but there are all types of different marriages. There are brides (and grooms) who are on their second, third, or fourth marriage.
There are blended families where they're raising kids from several different mixes of parents. There are marriages where they come from completely different cultures/backgrounds/age ranges. There's the occasional mail-order bride (does that still happem?)
Mr. Kettle and I come from similar backgrounds and home lives. We were both born in 1984. Both of our parents have been together for around 30 years. We both have a college degree with an interest in getting an advanced degree. We both grew up in the south side of the Chicago area. Neither of have children, but we both want a lot. We even went to the same music conservatory as kids, moving in lightly interconnected circles our whole lives. I don't know if that makes things easier, probably not, but there is a level of familiarity there.
I 'd love to hear from you hive. What kind of marriage are you having in terms of backgrounds of the bride and groom?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Organizing My Way Out Of A Funk
I thought I might not fall into the wedding funk that so many bees before me have fallen into. I thought that because I tend to stay looking for the silver lining, I had a fighting chance. Well, like so many wiser bees have said before me, like doesn't stop happening because you're having a wedding.
My great-aunt is in the hospital. My family refuses to acknowledge that I actually need to sleep when I get off work! And I have all these decisions to make that I can't seem to make. Since burying my head in the sand isn't a real option, I had to come up with something else.
Two things make me feel good. 1) Coming up with a plan. 2) Shopping.
So I took a note
I tried to use all the colors in the pack because I apparently have a compulsion to do so. I got the list written and out and immediately felt better. It worked like magic.
The combination of shopping and organizing helped me over the hump. I still feel like sticking my head in the ground, but just a little less so. And since we're getting our first mock-up of our invitations tomorrow and our tasting is Saturday, I have things to look forward to that should only make me happy.
How do you get over your wedding-avoiding hump? Did you manage to avoid it completely?
My great-aunt is in the hospital. My family refuses to acknowledge that I actually need to sleep when I get off work! And I have all these decisions to make that I can't seem to make. Since burying my head in the sand isn't a real option, I had to come up with something else.
Two things make me feel good. 1) Coming up with a plan. 2) Shopping.
So I took a note
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| List all written. I was feeling pleased with how short it looked. Sorta. |
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| Behind the flash, it says sweetheart table. |
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| The wall template. I didn't have tape, so I had to use post-its to hold it to the wall... |
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| All hung up! But still missing something... |
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| It needed the markers! |
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| Kittle Kettle wanted to help. She's handing me the hammer. Oh wait, no opposable thumbs. |
How do you get over your wedding-avoiding hump? Did you manage to avoid it completely?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Get In My Belly!
The time is finally coming up this weekend for our tasting with our wedding venue. I'm so excited. I feel like I should store up extra free space for all the food we'll be trying that day. It will be me, Mr. Kettle, Momma and Daddy Kettle, Mima and Poppa Kettle, FSIL Grand, and Grandmother Kettle. We take entourages everywhere we go now, apparently...
On that day, I'll feel like this:
All the food possibilities overwhelmed me just a bit. Luckily, we only had to choose three entree options. I'm guessing they'll fill in the sides with options that compliment those choices best.
I just had a scary thought. What if we don't try any sides?! Oh, the horror! I'd hate to have to choose sides without knowing how they taste.
I must admit that I'm not so worried about side dishes. I'm really thinking about.. cake!
We're considering having our cake done by the venue as well. I don't have a big fancy cake idea in mind. I just want a basic buttercream cake that mimics the color and pattern on the top of my dress. Don't get me wrong, I have a strong distaste for buttercream, but I dislike fondant even more. And bakeries aren't exactly making wedding cakes with whipped cream, so I'll take what I can get.
We have to choose three entree options. We've chosen: chicken saltembucco (which seems to be spelled 3 different ways), new york strip steak, and chicken piquant. I can't wait to try these. We pretty much know the steak will be our beef option, but we have to decide between the other two for the chicken option.
Those look pretty tasty, right?
The other choices that have to be made is deciding which cakes to try. They want us to choose 2 batter and three filling.
Our batter options are: white, yellow, chocolate, marble, banana, carrot, red velvet.
Our frosting options are: white buttercream, chocolate buttercream, mocha buttercream, hazelnut buttercream, ivory buttercream.
The filling options are much more numerous. There are three fresh fruit options, two jelly options, four fruit mousse options, eight mousse options (including Bailey's irish cream and Grand Marnier!), six cream options, and one chocolate option. How am I supposed to choose?
I'm leaning towards white cake and red velvet for the batter options. That means ivory buttercream or maybe mocha buttercream. What's the difference between mocha and chocolate? Coffee flavor?
For fillings, I have no idea. I love the french lemon silk idea. Mr. Kettle and I both love lemon. There are a number of options we can't go with simply because of taste preferences of Mr. Kettle (he loathes the texture of most fruit, weird, right?) and the drinking preferences of a lot of our guests. I'd hate for a lot of people to be unable to eat our cake cause the entire filling was from a liqueur.
With those parameters narrowing down the options, I think we'll go with white cake, red velvet cake, white buttercream, and ivory buttercream. I just know Momma Kettle will be happiest with selections that aren't "doing too much". So no mixing crazy flavors. This is my cake. But we're not paying hundreds of dollars for a cake that nobody but me wants to eat!
For the fillings (how can I choose just three?!), I'm going to go with French Lemon Silk, Cream Cheese, and Milk Chocolate Mousse. That should give us enough mixes that may taste good enough to choose one for the wedding.
I know I also have to be prepared to discuss cake design, but I'm not even close to ready to have that discussion yet.
If you could pick out mixes of batter and filling what would you choose? Did you have to choose your cake options before you cake tasting?
On that day, I'll feel like this:
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| Image via Cystic Fibrosis Fatboy |
I just had a scary thought. What if we don't try any sides?! Oh, the horror! I'd hate to have to choose sides without knowing how they taste.
I must admit that I'm not so worried about side dishes. I'm really thinking about.. cake!
We're considering having our cake done by the venue as well. I don't have a big fancy cake idea in mind. I just want a basic buttercream cake that mimics the color and pattern on the top of my dress. Don't get me wrong, I have a strong distaste for buttercream, but I dislike fondant even more. And bakeries aren't exactly making wedding cakes with whipped cream, so I'll take what I can get.
We have to choose three entree options. We've chosen: chicken saltembucco (which seems to be spelled 3 different ways), new york strip steak, and chicken piquant. I can't wait to try these. We pretty much know the steak will be our beef option, but we have to decide between the other two for the chicken option.
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| I love me some strip steak! / Image via Sunrise Foods |
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| Image via Skinny Chef |
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| Image via Delectable Victuals |
The other choices that have to be made is deciding which cakes to try. They want us to choose 2 batter and three filling.
Our batter options are: white, yellow, chocolate, marble, banana, carrot, red velvet.
Our frosting options are: white buttercream, chocolate buttercream, mocha buttercream, hazelnut buttercream, ivory buttercream.
The filling options are much more numerous. There are three fresh fruit options, two jelly options, four fruit mousse options, eight mousse options (including Bailey's irish cream and Grand Marnier!), six cream options, and one chocolate option. How am I supposed to choose?
I'm leaning towards white cake and red velvet for the batter options. That means ivory buttercream or maybe mocha buttercream. What's the difference between mocha and chocolate? Coffee flavor?
For fillings, I have no idea. I love the french lemon silk idea. Mr. Kettle and I both love lemon. There are a number of options we can't go with simply because of taste preferences of Mr. Kettle (he loathes the texture of most fruit, weird, right?) and the drinking preferences of a lot of our guests. I'd hate for a lot of people to be unable to eat our cake cause the entire filling was from a liqueur.
With those parameters narrowing down the options, I think we'll go with white cake, red velvet cake, white buttercream, and ivory buttercream. I just know Momma Kettle will be happiest with selections that aren't "doing too much". So no mixing crazy flavors. This is my cake. But we're not paying hundreds of dollars for a cake that nobody but me wants to eat!
For the fillings (how can I choose just three?!), I'm going to go with French Lemon Silk, Cream Cheese, and Milk Chocolate Mousse. That should give us enough mixes that may taste good enough to choose one for the wedding.
I know I also have to be prepared to discuss cake design, but I'm not even close to ready to have that discussion yet.
If you could pick out mixes of batter and filling what would you choose? Did you have to choose your cake options before you cake tasting?
Saturday, October 1, 2011
When Did I Become So Indecisive?
I've had meetings with vendors and known right away if I wanted to sign on the line. I could just tell that they were right for me. It hit me like it did when I knew Mr. Kettle was the man for me. That awesome feeling I felt about my dress and my wedding venue was felt with a couple vendors.
But then... nothing. No pangs of love drawing me in and letting me know I'd found the vendor for me.
Okay, complete honesty. That title is a bit misleading, hive. I'm not a decisive person by nature. I'm opinionated as hell, but most of my friends know that I can be indecisive. When I'm being indecisive, I just want someone to choose for me. But in wedding world, you end up with either pushy relatives or hands-off relatives. I've got this weird mix going.
They offer up all they're opinions and suggestions unsolicited. But when I actually want them to make a decision for me, I get no help. They want to make sure I get what I want and that I'm not being pushed into a decision I'll regret. I love them all so much for that because I know every detail of the day will be exactly how I prefer it.
But when I seriously honestly have no preference, I'm lost!
I still can't decide between the two florists. Their prices are similar, and we went the same flower selections, so there's no difference. I know I'll love the flowers no matter who does them because I love the options we went with. I'm seriously considering flipping a coin to decide.
I prefer the second DOC (day-of-coordinator) over the first, but that's mostly because her price was $1,000 cheaper. Yeah, you read that right, it's a huge, huge, price difference. But now my parents are wondering if we really need one.
Momma Kettle knows someone at her job who got married at my venue. The husband said they didn't need a DOC. Of course, they didn't have one. And how often is the groom aware of the details of the day that don't actually get attended to? I asked my mom to get his wife's number so I could ask her.
The decisions that need to be made are piling up. I thought by now I'd be done with all our vendors and able to focus on fun details, like finishing our invitations! I will do a post soon on our final mock up. It's hot and way better than anything I could come up with on my own.
But I'm not done making vendor decisions and I don't know how to get done. The one thing I do know is that I have no desire to meet more vendors in search of that love pang.
How do you make decisions when you're unsure? Is flipping a coin really that bad?
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| Image via The Gloss |
Okay, complete honesty. That title is a bit misleading, hive. I'm not a decisive person by nature. I'm opinionated as hell, but most of my friends know that I can be indecisive. When I'm being indecisive, I just want someone to choose for me. But in wedding world, you end up with either pushy relatives or hands-off relatives. I've got this weird mix going.
They offer up all they're opinions and suggestions unsolicited. But when I actually want them to make a decision for me, I get no help. They want to make sure I get what I want and that I'm not being pushed into a decision I'll regret. I love them all so much for that because I know every detail of the day will be exactly how I prefer it.
But when I seriously honestly have no preference, I'm lost!
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| At least I wasn't lost when it really counted! / Image via A Scrapbook of Memories |
I prefer the second DOC (day-of-coordinator) over the first, but that's mostly because her price was $1,000 cheaper. Yeah, you read that right, it's a huge, huge, price difference. But now my parents are wondering if we really need one.
Momma Kettle knows someone at her job who got married at my venue. The husband said they didn't need a DOC. Of course, they didn't have one. And how often is the groom aware of the details of the day that don't actually get attended to? I asked my mom to get his wife's number so I could ask her.
The decisions that need to be made are piling up. I thought by now I'd be done with all our vendors and able to focus on fun details, like finishing our invitations! I will do a post soon on our final mock up. It's hot and way better than anything I could come up with on my own.
But I'm not done making vendor decisions and I don't know how to get done. The one thing I do know is that I have no desire to meet more vendors in search of that love pang.
How do you make decisions when you're unsure? Is flipping a coin really that bad?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
What's The Big Deal About A Day-of-Coordinator?
There's a day-of-coordinator option that was available to us through our first florist interview. She works at the gallery and she's pretty amazing.
In spite of my natural urge to sign on the line with the first person who's offer sounds good, I resisted. Momma Kettle made and appointment with another day-of-coordinator for this week. Her prices are waay better than the first lady, but we'll see how the meeting goes. I'll be happy to report back to the hive, if only to help people in the Chicago area who are looking for coordinators.
I started thinking about why we really needed one though. I know for a fact that we definitely want one. But why? Here are the reasons I came up with:
Are you going to have/Did you have a DOC? Would you recommend one for a wedding as large as mine?
In spite of my natural urge to sign on the line with the first person who's offer sounds good, I resisted. Momma Kettle made and appointment with another day-of-coordinator for this week. Her prices are waay better than the first lady, but we'll see how the meeting goes. I'll be happy to report back to the hive, if only to help people in the Chicago area who are looking for coordinators.
I started thinking about why we really needed one though. I know for a fact that we definitely want one. But why? Here are the reasons I came up with:
- You really get to relax the day of your wedding, no hassles on vendor payments and tracking down family for portraits.
- Your friends/family get to relax the day of your wedding. They won't be delegated the responsibility of organizing reception flowers or making sure the seating chart is visible and programs are handed out.
- All your vendors (and your wedding party members) have a one stop shop at which to direct questions
- If your DOC is awesome, he/she'll be involved before the actual day, helping with the wedding rehearsal and helping create time lines for events.
Are you going to have/Did you have a DOC? Would you recommend one for a wedding as large as mine?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Configuring The Kettle Tea Party: Wedding Theme
After reading about all the lovely themes that brides come up with for their wedding, I was feeling a bit sad, or maybe just melancholy, that we didn't have a real theme for our wedding. I knew we'd never come up with a concept that would cover the whole wedding weekend because that's just not us.
Ultimately I've been accepting that our wedding will be formal and will be romantic, but it will have a couple of quirky twists to it. One twist is my dress, it's very unexpected. Another twist is having 2s of so many things and having so many people involved. But that's not really a theme, is it?
I didn't think so. Not when there are so many real themes out there. Whether it's color, icon, flavor, or culture, we just didn't have anything like what every other bride seemed to have.
I wanted a theme! And guess, what hive, I've got one!
Before I tell you what it is, I'll tell you how I stumbled across our theme that already existed!
I've been loving all the banners and bunting that brides have been DIY-ing here. I was inspired to use that same concept for our Save the Dates featuring a photo from our e-photo shoot.
After taking a closer look at both my first and my second attempts at making our STDs, the wheels began turning.
Then I had a conversation with Momma Kettle about our wedding favors. We're going the picture frame route. They will double as place cards for the reception. Not the most unique idea, but they are perfect for what we have in mind. We're getting them in gold and they will match our decor perfectly.
I started thinking about more DIY projects I could do and I settled on decor for the reception. As much as I loved those banners that everyone else was making for their gift tables and cake tables, I knew they were just a bit too casual for our formal/romantic wedding.
Then it hit me.
Well, it didn't literally hit me, but it certainly figuratively hit me. Frames!!!
I could decorate our tables with all the pertinent info we needed and make the fonts/colors match our invitations and put them in lovely fantastic frames!
The frames will be fancy and lovely go perfectly with the fancy mansion on the wedding day. They've already been incorporated in a number of ways into this wedding, we just didn't realize it.
Frames everywhere!!
Here is where frames can come into our wedding:
What's your theme? Did you decide before you began planning or did it fall in your lap like mine did?
Ultimately I've been accepting that our wedding will be formal and will be romantic, but it will have a couple of quirky twists to it. One twist is my dress, it's very unexpected. Another twist is having 2s of so many things and having so many people involved. But that's not really a theme, is it?
I didn't think so. Not when there are so many real themes out there. Whether it's color, icon, flavor, or culture, we just didn't have anything like what every other bride seemed to have.
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| Bird Wedding Theme / Image via Perfect Wedding Zone |
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| Pink Wedding Theme / Image by Anne Ruthmann Photography via TWIS Weddings |
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| Sugar Wedding Theme / Image via Wedding Favors Ideas |
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| Greek Wedding Theme / Image via Lovely Wedding. Info |
Before I tell you what it is, I'll tell you how I stumbled across our theme that already existed!
I've been loving all the banners and bunting that brides have been DIY-ing here. I was inspired to use that same concept for our Save the Dates featuring a photo from our e-photo shoot.
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| Personal Photo. See the Save the Banner! |
Then I had a conversation with Momma Kettle about our wedding favors. We're going the picture frame route. They will double as place cards for the reception. Not the most unique idea, but they are perfect for what we have in mind. We're getting them in gold and they will match our decor perfectly.
I started thinking about more DIY projects I could do and I settled on decor for the reception. As much as I loved those banners that everyone else was making for their gift tables and cake tables, I knew they were just a bit too casual for our formal/romantic wedding.
Then it hit me.
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| Image via I Can Has Cheez Burger |
I could decorate our tables with all the pertinent info we needed and make the fonts/colors match our invitations and put them in lovely fantastic frames!
The frames will be fancy and lovely go perfectly with the fancy mansion on the wedding day. They've already been incorporated in a number of ways into this wedding, we just didn't realize it.
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| Personal photo from E-Party Recap |
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| Personal photo from E-Party Recap / We'll be re-using these to display the menu at our wedding reception. |
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| Personal photo from STD Reveal |
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| Personal photo from STD First Attempt |
Here is where frames can come into our wedding:
- Personal photos around the mansion on the wedding day
- Frame for the poster board that will have our seating chart
- Frame for table decor to identify where everything is
- Frames as the only prop for the portrait backdrop. After people take serious pics, they may want to get a big goofy, and I'll go with that if we get some assorted frames for this purpose
- Frame motif for the invitations (which are currently in the design phase)
- Frame motif for the program, thank you cards, etc.
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| Image via Wedding Tweets |
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| Image via Oil Paintings Frames |
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| Image via Art Gallery Frames |
What's your theme? Did you decide before you began planning or did it fall in your lap like mine did?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Figuring Out Flowers - Our Second Florist Interview
This won't be a terribly long post hive. We had our meeting with the second florist. I was late, again!!! At least I wasn't 45 min late this time, I was only 30 min late.
But I have an even better reason this time. I did have to stop and pick up Grandmother Kettle again. But first, I picked up Momma Kettle from her job downtown. Originally, we were going to meet at the florist, but since I was in the neighborhood, I picked her up so she could leave the car with Daddy Kettle and make his trip home from work easier.
So why was I in the neighborhood? Well, I was having lunch right across the street from my mother's building, with Miss Sunhat!! We met for lunch and were both quite glad to have someone to talk to about wedding stuff who never got that glazed over, I'm-not-getting-married-so-I-really-don't-care, look in the eyes.
We shared stories of Mr. Kettle and Mr. Ball Cap both trying to avoid searching out their tuxes for the wedding. It's always interesting to find random things in common. But this post is supposed to be about meeting florists, not how awesome Miss Sunhat is, so I'm moving on.
Our second florist meeting was with Homewood Florist. The shop was lovely. I wish I had taken a picture of the outside when we walked up.
That pic doesn't show the entrance in all it's glory, Imagine that, in lovely fall colors, with a welcoming arch 10 feet in front of the store.
We sat down with the florist and went over the details of what I wanted for the wedding flowers. I was right that the first wedding florist appointment made the second one go much smoother. The highlight of the appointment was when Mr. Kettle showed up unexpectedly. He's doesn't work far from there and so he came by just because. I love that man.
She took notes, made some suggestions, but mostly we went with what was decided with the first florist. She did offer some alternatives in sizes for the roses for some of the corsages and bouquets. They were very helpful suggestions.
We've gotten our quote from the second florist. After hearing about some people in the hive not getting quotes for weeks or even months, I was very worried about having to wait a very long time for our quotes. But they both came very quickly.
We're currently evaluating the two florists, and then we'll make our choice. The one thing we know for sure is that we aren't going to need to have the third florist interview. So, for your viewing and inspirational pleasure, some pictures of what this flower shop can do!
All photos via Homewood Florist
But I have an even better reason this time. I did have to stop and pick up Grandmother Kettle again. But first, I picked up Momma Kettle from her job downtown. Originally, we were going to meet at the florist, but since I was in the neighborhood, I picked her up so she could leave the car with Daddy Kettle and make his trip home from work easier.
So why was I in the neighborhood? Well, I was having lunch right across the street from my mother's building, with Miss Sunhat!! We met for lunch and were both quite glad to have someone to talk to about wedding stuff who never got that glazed over, I'm-not-getting-married-so-I-really-don't-care, look in the eyes.
We shared stories of Mr. Kettle and Mr. Ball Cap both trying to avoid searching out their tuxes for the wedding. It's always interesting to find random things in common. But this post is supposed to be about meeting florists, not how awesome Miss Sunhat is, so I'm moving on.
Our second florist meeting was with Homewood Florist. The shop was lovely. I wish I had taken a picture of the outside when we walked up.
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| Image via Homewood Florist |
We sat down with the florist and went over the details of what I wanted for the wedding flowers. I was right that the first wedding florist appointment made the second one go much smoother. The highlight of the appointment was when Mr. Kettle showed up unexpectedly. He's doesn't work far from there and so he came by just because. I love that man.
She took notes, made some suggestions, but mostly we went with what was decided with the first florist. She did offer some alternatives in sizes for the roses for some of the corsages and bouquets. They were very helpful suggestions.
We've gotten our quote from the second florist. After hearing about some people in the hive not getting quotes for weeks or even months, I was very worried about having to wait a very long time for our quotes. But they both came very quickly.
We're currently evaluating the two florists, and then we'll make our choice. The one thing we know for sure is that we aren't going to need to have the third florist interview. So, for your viewing and inspirational pleasure, some pictures of what this flower shop can do!
All photos via Homewood Florist
How did you choose your florist? Which florist should I go with?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Honeymoon Musings
Alternate Title: Be Still My Beating Heart
Mr. Kettle and I have been discussing on and off plans for our honeymoon. It's been a pretty big deal in our house because our choice to go on a week-long honeymoon right after our wedding affected lots of other decisions in the rest of our life.
We want to do this honeymoon right. We want romance, relaxation, and a trip to somewhere that will be warm in February while also some place neither of us have visited. We've come up with Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Seeing as how Mardi Gras is such an important day in the course of our relationship, I thought it would be fun to extend the honeymoon to include a stopover in New Orleans for the holiday.
That would mean a flight to an island the Monday after our wedding. Staying there til Sunday (6 nights, woot!), and then flying to New Orleans and staying there until Wednesday, when we would fly back to Chicago and officially start our married lives.
For both of us, that's not too much travelling. It could prove to be too much money. Also Mr. Kettle isn't sure if he wants to use up almost all his days off just for our honeymoon. We're still discussing it, but I've realized what I want. And that is a honeymoon on an island followed by keeping our promise to each other to spend Mardi Gras 2012 together as a newly married couple.
I didn't even realize at first that Mardi Gras was so close after our wedding. I think it's perfect and I wish I could go back in time to tell Mardi Gras 2011 me that it would all turn out just as Mr. Kettle drunkenly promised.
With this idea now firmly planted in my head, I went online to begin checking out hotel prices in Hawaii. I figured I'd start with the most expensive option and work down from there til we found something that could work for our projected budget.
But then, I had the most unexpected moment I've experienced since getting a beautiful pink sapphire ring put on my finger. My heart skipped a beat. I've been trying like the Dickens to avoid any connection between our wedding and Valentine's Day.
But our honeymoon and Valentine's Day? Oh hell yes. I went to check rates at all three Hawaii Hyatts and my pulse quickened when I selected the start date the day before Valentine's Day. As a woman who loves her some holidays, I would be over the moon to have my honeymoon include both Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras. Those are two of the year's biggest holiday celebrations that don't require you to love and dine with family.
I could spend those newlywedding it up with my new husband. Lounging on the beaches in Maui, sipping hurricanes in New Orleans. Him having a great opportunity to play his sax and sit in with a band. I've demanded he bring his horn to our honeymoon because I'm clairvoyant and I know it will be used. How awesome is that? Oh please oh please God, make this happen for us!
Mr. Kettle and I have been discussing on and off plans for our honeymoon. It's been a pretty big deal in our house because our choice to go on a week-long honeymoon right after our wedding affected lots of other decisions in the rest of our life.
We want to do this honeymoon right. We want romance, relaxation, and a trip to somewhere that will be warm in February while also some place neither of us have visited. We've come up with Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Seeing as how Mardi Gras is such an important day in the course of our relationship, I thought it would be fun to extend the honeymoon to include a stopover in New Orleans for the holiday.
That would mean a flight to an island the Monday after our wedding. Staying there til Sunday (6 nights, woot!), and then flying to New Orleans and staying there until Wednesday, when we would fly back to Chicago and officially start our married lives.
For both of us, that's not too much travelling. It could prove to be too much money. Also Mr. Kettle isn't sure if he wants to use up almost all his days off just for our honeymoon. We're still discussing it, but I've realized what I want. And that is a honeymoon on an island followed by keeping our promise to each other to spend Mardi Gras 2012 together as a newly married couple.
I didn't even realize at first that Mardi Gras was so close after our wedding. I think it's perfect and I wish I could go back in time to tell Mardi Gras 2011 me that it would all turn out just as Mr. Kettle drunkenly promised.
With this idea now firmly planted in my head, I went online to begin checking out hotel prices in Hawaii. I figured I'd start with the most expensive option and work down from there til we found something that could work for our projected budget.
But then, I had the most unexpected moment I've experienced since getting a beautiful pink sapphire ring put on my finger. My heart skipped a beat. I've been trying like the Dickens to avoid any connection between our wedding and Valentine's Day.
But our honeymoon and Valentine's Day? Oh hell yes. I went to check rates at all three Hawaii Hyatts and my pulse quickened when I selected the start date the day before Valentine's Day. As a woman who loves her some holidays, I would be over the moon to have my honeymoon include both Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras. Those are two of the year's biggest holiday celebrations that don't require you to love and dine with family.
I could spend those newlywedding it up with my new husband. Lounging on the beaches in Maui, sipping hurricanes in New Orleans. Him having a great opportunity to play his sax and sit in with a band. I've demanded he bring his horn to our honeymoon because I'm clairvoyant and I know it will be used. How awesome is that? Oh please oh please God, make this happen for us!
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| Image via Honeymooners Review |
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| Image via Destination 360 |
Monday, September 19, 2011
Figuring Out Flowers - Our First Florist Interview
Our first interview was so lovely! If y'all know me by now, y'all know I was ready to sign that day and forgo the other meetings. But, as usual, Mr. Kettle and Momma Kettle encouraged me to go to the other meeting I'd setup in order to "explore my options." Whatever, we'll go to the meeting and see what the other people have to say.
This first meeting was with The South Loop Floral & Events Gallery. They really have some beautiful stuff there.
I woke up late and still had to go pick up Grandmother Kettle. We didn't get there until about 5:45. The appointment was at 5:00. On-time fail. When we arrived, Momma and Mima Kettle were both there, discussing some things with the florist. They hadn't gotten to into though because they were waiting for me.
We dove right in and discussed so many things. I was in love in roses. I still am. There's just one hiccup. My desire for a sea of roses for the wedding...?
Yeah, well, that didn't seem to be a real possibility because roses apparently cost double around Valentine's Day. And here I thought they'd be easier to acquire because growers prepare for the need for larger numbers of roses. I wasn't too keen on paying double just to have all my roses, so I started looking through books to see what other flowers struck my fancy.
All I came up with at first were beautiful-but-out-of-season-and-therefore-also-expensive tulips. I know I tend to have expensive taste, but darnit, this was not a good start. Everything I looked at that looked similar to a rose but not quite turned out to be a rose just opened all the way, or just from a different angle. I finally buckled down and forced myself to be open to more options.
Mima Kettle had graciously offered to pay for the bouquets, bouts, etc. for the wedding party. This is because she's amazing! She likes the look of roses too and once she said she thought they'd make a good base flower, I immediately felt better. I didn't feel like I was starting from scratch with my inspiration for flowers. That made it much easier to find great flowers.
Fast forward to four hours later. Yes, you read that right hive. We were at the florist for 4 hours. Those people must've really wanted our business if they sat there talking flowers with us for 4 hours!! We talked bouquets, bouts, corsages, ceremony decorations, receptions decorations, aisle runners, and we had come to pretty firm decisions on them all.
I won't go into all the details here, but I will tell you what flowers I ended up choosing. I thought I'd go into there, pick out a couple of their pre-arranged setups and move on with my day. I should have known better because nothing we've done with this wedding has been off the pre-prepared menu options.
The ivory-colored roses in this bouquet are called Vendella roses. Those will be our base flower for all the ladies' bouquets (including mine) as well as the groomsmen, bridesmen, and groom's bouts, and the reception table decorations.
This bouquet features green roses. I wasn't too keen on the roses at first, but I've been dying to find a way to get some green into this wedding. This will really look fantastic next to the other ivory, white, and purple flower options coming up. This flower will be in all the bouquets except mine, the best mens' bouts, and in the table decorations.
This champagne rose will be featured only in the corsages for the Hostesses (aka female ushers, still sorting out their title).
These white cymbidium orchids will be appearing in my bouquet, in the mothers'/important womenfolk corsages, fathers'/important menfolk bouts, and in the groom's (increasingly extravagant) bout.
This green cymbidium orchid will be seen in the mothers'/important womenfolk corsages.
These green hydrangeas will be making an appearance first in the ceremony decoration bouquets that will serve as a sort of altar. That arrangement will be doubling as the table decorations for the two parents' tables at the wedding. They will also be in the table arrangements for all the reception tables.
These white freesias will come into my bouquet, the groom's bout, and the table decorations for the reception.
White lilies will be just like the green hydrangeas and will be in the ceremony decoration bouquets that will serve as a sort of altar. That arrangement will be doubling as the table decorations for the two parents' tables at the wedding. They will also be in the table arrangements for all the reception tables.
This lovely bright flower is called Status. In purple, these little babies will be everywhere! They will serve as filler in basically every floral arrangement in the wedding.
Now, I have an obsession with greenery and twiggy-looking filler, so we'll be having some sort of wintry greenery (that's yet undecided) that will serve as the greenery in all bouquets, bouts, and corsages. Also, the reception table decorations will have both bear grass and curly willow. Lastly, I want some sort of berries in there. Don't ask why, I just do. I didn't want red though, so we got another pop of green!
I had the following picture in my floral inspiration post. It was very hard to find a lot of photos online of what I wanted. Most have the curly willow outside the vase, not inside, like how I want it.
Beautiful winter greenery options, though I was looking for something that looked more like a Christmas tree...
Green berries! I think they will look lovely in the bouquets, bouts, and table decorations.
After typing out all these flower selections, I'm starting to see how we could have been at that florist for four hours. 4 hours!!! So much time. But there are so many people in our wedding party, figure out the different combos of flowers took one hour by itself.
I don't know if it would be better to go in to the second florist with a fresh slate or to go in armed with my hard-earned flower decisions. I don't want to be closed off from more inspiration, but I also don't want to spend another 4 hours of my life, Momma Kettle's life, Grandmother Kettle's life, and Mima Kettle's life sorting out flowers again. We'll see what happens Thursday, I guess.
This first meeting was with The South Loop Floral & Events Gallery. They really have some beautiful stuff there.
I woke up late and still had to go pick up Grandmother Kettle. We didn't get there until about 5:45. The appointment was at 5:00. On-time fail. When we arrived, Momma and Mima Kettle were both there, discussing some things with the florist. They hadn't gotten to into though because they were waiting for me.
We dove right in and discussed so many things. I was in love in roses. I still am. There's just one hiccup. My desire for a sea of roses for the wedding...?
 |
| Image via eFoodAlert Blog |
All I came up with at first were beautiful-but-out-of-season-and-therefore-also-expensive tulips. I know I tend to have expensive taste, but darnit, this was not a good start. Everything I looked at that looked similar to a rose but not quite turned out to be a rose just opened all the way, or just from a different angle. I finally buckled down and forced myself to be open to more options.
Mima Kettle had graciously offered to pay for the bouquets, bouts, etc. for the wedding party. This is because she's amazing! She likes the look of roses too and once she said she thought they'd make a good base flower, I immediately felt better. I didn't feel like I was starting from scratch with my inspiration for flowers. That made it much easier to find great flowers.
Fast forward to four hours later. Yes, you read that right hive. We were at the florist for 4 hours. Those people must've really wanted our business if they sat there talking flowers with us for 4 hours!! We talked bouquets, bouts, corsages, ceremony decorations, receptions decorations, aisle runners, and we had come to pretty firm decisions on them all.
I won't go into all the details here, but I will tell you what flowers I ended up choosing. I thought I'd go into there, pick out a couple of their pre-arranged setups and move on with my day. I should have known better because nothing we've done with this wedding has been off the pre-prepared menu options.
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| Image via Keisha's Creations Blog |
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| Image via BuyFlowersOnline |
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| Image via Only Roses |
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| Image via Landscape-And-Garden |
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| Image via Fifty Flowers |
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| Image via Hydrangeas Hydrangeas |
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| Image via Pictures 13 |
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| Image via 1 Stop Florists |
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| Image via pBase |
Now, I have an obsession with greenery and twiggy-looking filler, so we'll be having some sort of wintry greenery (that's yet undecided) that will serve as the greenery in all bouquets, bouts, and corsages. Also, the reception table decorations will have both bear grass and curly willow. Lastly, I want some sort of berries in there. Don't ask why, I just do. I didn't want red though, so we got another pop of green!
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| Image via Lubz's Floral Design / Calla lilies are not my thing, but this is a great bouquet that shows all the unique things you can do with bear grass. |
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| Image via Flower Girls of Tulsa |
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| Image via Pen + Posy Blog |
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| Image via Save-on-Crafts |
After typing out all these flower selections, I'm starting to see how we could have been at that florist for four hours. 4 hours!!! So much time. But there are so many people in our wedding party, figure out the different combos of flowers took one hour by itself.
The price quote they gave us was well within the budgets that we all had in mind, which was awesome! I'm glad I compromised and included more flowers than just roses. This first florist worked so hard, they are going to make the job of the second florist so much easier.
To sum up the day, here is a cartoon I drew just for you hive.
To sum up the day, here is a cartoon I drew just for you hive.
I don't know if it would be better to go in to the second florist with a fresh slate or to go in armed with my hard-earned flower decisions. I don't want to be closed off from more inspiration, but I also don't want to spend another 4 hours of my life, Momma Kettle's life, Grandmother Kettle's life, and Mima Kettle's life sorting out flowers again. We'll see what happens Thursday, I guess.
How many florist meeting did you have? Did you flower choices reflect your floral inspiration?
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