My dress!

View Quoted Comment It’s soooo freaking sparkly irl, gold glitter -everywhere- and they added pearls to some of the flowers! That was a nice surprise.

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Yeah, it was so much calmer just looking at pictures online and dreaming. Though I wanted to throw in the towel and elope a few times when the venue search didn't initially go as planned. Now I'm just thinking of all the little things like getting ice to the venue, make sure there are bottle openers and toothpicks in the right places. (She keeps reminding me our favors are bottle openers but that doesn't cover the wine) I still have to figure out how we're going to "magically" make "Mischief Managed" appear after the ceremony. I want my hair braided but it's still shorter than I wanted and I am going back and forth on a loose updo or trying to get curls and waves into my stubborn hair while also managing a million other details. We need an extra large frame for the selfie station and OMG I can't stop tweaking the playlist!!! We still have 3 that won't give us a proper RSVP and I am simply not expecting them. Luckily we are having a cocktail party reception so it shouldn't be THAT big of a deal, but RUDE. I'm working on my to do list now, it will be the first list of many and I may even put a spreadsheet together. lol

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YAY for the happy surprises!

View Quoted Comment It’ll all be worth it in the end! We wanted to elope too, got our outfits and everything. Wedding venues near me are insane. $600 for FORTYFIVE minutes for a ceremony! That’s not even enough time for photos! I hated all of the venues, meanwhile on some magical island north of me I could’ve gotten a fancy elopement for $1500 including honeymoon. But it’s a time for our families so we’re doin’ this.
Are your bottle openers skeleton keys? My SiL had really cute bottle openers that were keys, they were really cute and tied with ribbons. We’re ordering these custom meringues for our favors that look like some kind of enchanted jewel you’d find in an RPG game or something. FH’s idea and his pride and joy lol
Are you doing a hair trial? You could even do one at home to see how well your hair holds up all day! Curls would look really nice if you could keep them from unraveling.
How are you doing your selfie station? Are you doing a set up camera or letting people use their phones? I’m trying to do one too! There’s an oversized gold frame on Shindigz but kinda pricey for just cardboard. We’re doing a gigantic story book. I was going to DIY this but no way, I’m just going to buy it. This DIY isn’t for amateur crafters like me lol
We’re doing a buffet but our caterer is being cool about it, she’s just like “Just take the leftovers home” if some people don’t show. Sounds good to me. I keep adding to our list, if FH hears “Ok we’re like 99% done” one more time I think he might hide our wallets, I keep adding last minute stuff! Like your toothpicks, I forgot those!

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We ended up spending $2200 on the venue but it is a house we are renting for the entire weekend so it will also be a minimoon and a place for our boys to stay for the weekend, worth it to us. We would have paid almost that much for the traditional venues here that had the same cookie cutter look in literally every picture and none of the freedom.

Yes, our keys are antique silver and come with a pillow box we filled with trick or treat size bags of skittles and ties to the keys with silver ribbon. So cute! I love the meringue jewels, so cute!!!

I might get together with the woman first but I was planning on just trying to do it myself so I don't even know how I'm going to work this whole thing now. I guess I'm just going to show up and talk to her then. My hair will stay if I apply product and heat, but it's just a matter of getting it to that point.

So our venue has a balcony from the master suite that we will hang the extra large frame from with fishing line. We didn't want to chase after cameras so people can just use their phones and we have all kinds of props available. I didn't like the cardboard frames so our photographer volunteered to make one but not sure how that's going. I am also quite the amateur crafter but she's determined to paint these trays for "something". lol

I blew her mind when I started listing all the little things like bottle openers and toothpicks. She makes fun of my lists but I think she's starting to see that the extra stress of planning now should lead to a chill day when it comes. That's the goal anyway.

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Your veil is beautiful!! Oh my goodness, I love it!! Where did you get it?

View Quoted Comment Oh man I wanted to rent a house too! I envy you. All the cool venues near me were like 10k food not included but there was this castle I was completely in love with. It had an old stone tavern for folk dancing, ugh it would’ve been so perfect. 😭
Your favors sound adorable!! I can’t wait to see those.
We’re in the same boat, lol I have no idea how this is going to come together. I found out my caterer doesn’t cut the cake so I’m just going to don my chef jacket and cut it myself. Roll with the punches!
That sounds unique so far! Where did you get your props? We’re going to hit up Spirit Halloween store for crowns and such and I’m determined to get a Burger King crown, this is essential! My FH is going to be like a kid in a candy store, we’re Halloween crazy.
I’ve filled an entire notebook with lists now, not even joking. There’s always something you forget.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! ❤️ LamnhiBridals on Etsy, their veils are so gorgeous

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We got so lucky, most places here start at $4,000 and require an additional $1500-$2000 just to have an event, and they WILL check up on you to make sure you're not having too many people. I love the idea of a castle but there are none of those where we live. I could have had a couple of options back home in CT, but I'm good here.

I would be freaking about the cake, it's one of the many reason we chose cupcakes. That and I love the idea of flavor options. Hopefully someone will step in to help.

We got most of our stuff at Party City on a whim. I also have a Harry Potter wand, a rainbow flag (because duh), and might get fairy wings from the dollar store. I am all about Halloween and put together multiple costumes for different events throughout the season. I do the Polar Plunge in February (when I'm not having surgery). We raise money for Special Olympics and the athletes are always there to participate. One year I went dressed as Sailor Moon. I had so many athletes and their families come up to me asking for pictures I decided then and there I would only plunge in costume. I also participate in parades here and have different costumes for each. Halloween/Samhain is my favorite holiday.

Lists save lives! I need that on a bumper sticker.

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It's so unique!! 😍