Weddingbee boards

    Hello Bees! I'm new to the hive. I've been browsing the different blogs and admiring all the different ideas and posts you all have come up with.  I've since been inspired enough to drag out my FI's laptop (mine has a virus and my iphone can't make posts) and start my own post. I've been dying to show someone else my ideas and progress, other than my poor FI who I am sure has just about had it with me and my wedding rants and ideas.  A person can only take so much.  I must give him credit where credit is due, however.  He's been totally awesome with everything, helping me with my DIY projects and getting involved in finding certain vendors.  But, I am a HUGE worry wort and a completely indecisive person, so I can occassionaly go overboard (i'm putting that lightly). With that said, I need a new outlet/sounding board.  So, here I am.  

    My name is PhotoChick956.  (Ha, it'll take me a while to get used to this alias thing)  My FI and I have been together for a little over 7 years now.  Actually, well over 7.  On March 9, 2012 of next year (our wedding date might I add) will make it 8. Man how the time flies! We met in highschool.  We didn't really know each other but knew who one another was. My best friend was dating his best friend.  After high school, our friends merged together and we started hanging out.  I had always had a boyfriend until finally, we broke up right before Valentines day.  Not wanting to be alone, I had my friend's boyfriend set me up on a "blind date" sort of thing since I really didn't know any of his guy friends.  I had a choice between my FI and another guy.  I chose FI and we instantly hit it off.  It was honestly amazing how easy it was just talking to him.  I'm normally a shy kind of gal but i found myself talking about anything and everything.  Even those topics which your not supposed to talk to on a first date like religion, politics, marriage etc.  It was kind of crazy.  And just like that, 7 years has passed.

    FI proposed in Downtown Hollywood, where we had one of our first dates in the Disney soda fountain store.  We took our seats at the bar.  The entire time we place our order he was acting kind of strange.  He was sweating up a storm and looked sick to his stomache.  I really thought he was sick.  After we placed our order for a banana split, he excused himself to the restroom.  I was starting to get worried about him.  When he returned, he stood next to me as I sat on the stool.  The waitress then brought the banana split and sat it on the counter in front of me and stood there waiting.  Right at this moment, FI sort of slid to the ground on one knee and I was REALLY worried.  I honestly thought he was having some kind of attack as he was on his knee on the floor.  I turned from him to the lady expecting her to say something like "are you ok sir" and nothing. Nothing but an odd grin on her face. I was really confused at this point because who on earth just smiles with anticipation when a customer is sick on his knees.  Then, FI starts talking, and like a whirl wind everyone in the parlor disappears and I realize that he's on one knee asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. (As im typing this tears are actually falling, I feel like such a sap. But, I love my FI) He then reaches for the banana split in front of me, and then I see it.  The glint from the beautiful ring catches my eye as it sits atop the cherry from the stem.  As some words escaped my mouth (I think I said of course i will, I can't really be sure as my emotions got the best of me and I started crying) FI places the ring on my finger and everyone in the parlor begins to clap.  The server wasn't that crazy after all. LOL. Anyhoo, we've been engaged now for about 4 years.  Why so long of an engagement you might ask? Well, for some odd reason I had plans of waiting till after I was finished with school. But, life and work happened and school's been taking a lot longer than expected to complete. Finally, I had enough of the waiting and just gave in. I WANT to be married. I just couldn't wait anymore. So, we've started our planning.

    This wedding will be mostly a DIY on a $10,000 budget (Haha right, we'll see if that happens).  When i set out on this adventure, I just couldn't see spending so much money on a wedding. I've had friends who have spent well over that. Beautiful weddings btw, but finances plus my determination to stay reasonable just wouldn't allow for that.  Fast forward about 6 months and lots has changed! I can now see how EASY it is to spend way more than that.  I can't make judgements anymore (not like i was, well... I kinda was). i soo now want to spend much more. It hasn't been easy to try and stay within budget for everything.  Nice things = one shiney penny!!  I promise to try my best to keep things within budget.  Not only for myself and my sanity, but for others out there who have done research to see if it is possible, as I once did, to have a beautiful wedding on that $10,000 budget.  I will say this, it is NOT easy.  It will take a lot of compromise and continuous reminding that I'm on a budget. So far, so good. 

    We set the date first by making that hefty deposit on the venue.  That was in late March of this year.  We had one year ahead of us to plan and prepare.  Since then, it feels like so little has been accomplished.  But, when I really sit and think about it, we have done a lot.  I've since:

booked the church- about 7 minutes away from the venue.  It was really important to me that they be close since many of our guests will be from out of town and with another long drive/wait it would be a pain in the butt.

purchased linnens for the tables- table cloth, napkins & runners all from LA Garment district

created centerpieces- DIY Lampshades, candles, DIY floral arrangements

purchased my dress- it was actually a surprise gift from the best sisters in the world!

decided on men's attire- men's warehouse tux rentals

found one of 3 caterers- we're having a Mexican/Phillipino buffet since I'm mexican, and FI is half fillipino. Found an excellent fillipino food caterer, but they dont have plates nor eating utensils. So, well see how that goes. Just have to find a different caterer who hopefully doesn't mind sharing. Or ((gasp)) plastic plates.  I dont want to have to deal with renting and cleaning plates.

created STD- printed just waiting to mail. Waiting for what? IDk, i've just been lazy. Or waiting to see everyone at some point so I dont have to waste a stamp.

purchased invitations- Michaels 40% off coupons to the rescue!

purchased my shoes- 2 pairs, still deciding on which to keep and waiting on one to arrive in the mail

Started looking for cake- communicating with two cake ladies

Created and working on Favors- personalized Nerds candy boxes in our wedding colors, which are BTW dark purple and sage green.

Created and printed photo guest book- Yay Mixbook, 40% off deal

Decided to DIY all flowers- I live about 1hour away from LA flower market. I've made one trip to check out the prices and quickly decided that it was much cheaper than a florist.  Granted I don't have their expertise, but hopefully youtube and practice will help me out with that.

Booked photographer- Working in a photolab has it's perks, I have the pleasure of browsing through photos, and yes, we look through them all. It's part of the job (no nudity, copyright issues, etc.) I happened to stumble upon some really gorgeous wedding shots.  Found out the photographers name and contacted her. She's AMAZING! We've already taken our engagement photos and they turned out awesome. Love her.

    That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure i've forgotten something. Hopefully, I'll have posts dedicated to each topic such as venue, dress, food, and whatever else there is.  We'll just have to see.  ((Fingers crossed for that iphone app))  I hope this wasn't too much to read.  I've had a lot on my mind apparently.  This has really helped.  Its sort of therapeutic. Thanks weddingbee and wedding bees.  Your awesome.