Wedding Planning Vol. 5
You guys! We are five weeks out from my WEDDING DAY! Words can not describe how excited and nervous I am at the same time! I am excited because there is nothing in the world that can make me happier than to know that in little over a month I get to marry my love, I am nervous because I still get those tiny butterfly’s when I think about walking down the isle… I feel the faint flutters when I think about hearing HIS vows! You guys I am sooo ready if you cannot tell! With my feelings and my brain all jumbled I have still managed to stay organized, motivated, and on task. I have miraculously managed this with the added stress of “getting down to the wire”, I believe all of you Brides know what I am referring to!
It has been a few months since the last update so here is a small refresher! As of May all of my Venders have been payed in full which has been the biggest weight off of my shoulders! I have accumulated all of the decorations for the reception and Ceremony areas except for items that I cannot get until the week/day of and I am still on the hunt for a nice 4 Paine window that will have the Wedding Party listed for the Ceremony area. (THIS WILL SERVE AS A MAKESHIFT PROGRAM) I had bought one from Target, but I realized that it is too small to be used for this purpose and it did not look right with the easel I got for it to be placed on. The Ceremony and Reception area decoration list and set up will still be the same as I explained in the previous update. If you have not read that update or need a more detailed refresher click here and then come back to this post and enjoy the most resent Wedding Planning update!
The past couple of weeks I have been working on Wedding Prep for every aspect of the day! I have made schedules and lists for specified people. Kassy has helped me tremendously with getting most of the Ceremony area prep finished and organized into bags and boxes. I am currently working on the Reception Prep and making sure that my To-Do lists are in order. Below are some specific updates on each section of the Wedding Day!
CEREMONY:
I feel extremely confident when I say I have organized the Ceremony to the best of my ability. I have informed at least one of the necessary people on the details of how this section of the Wedding venue needs to be set up. As spoken of before the curtains and purple ribbon that are being used to rope of each side of the inside Isle have been D.I.Y(ED)! Kassy and I used my bar stools to navigate where the chairs will approximately be placed. From there we laid out the curtains, placed the already tied ribbon onto the top of the sheer white makeshift ropes, we made the ribbon droop in unison with the curtains, and lastly we tied the ribbon into each end of the “ropes” as well as tie the curtains together making a couple long stands for easy access and set up the day of the event. We had to improvise when it came to the ribbon because we could not staple or tape the ribbon to the curtains for a couple of reasons
they are way too thin and sheer so you would be able to see straight through to the bulky silver staple
the glue dots I had purchased to perhaps have them stick to each other became way too complicated. The dots stuck to our skin more often then getting the ribbon and curtain to stick together.
After realizing plan A and B were not going to work… we chose a less complicated route. All this process leaves for the Set up Crew to do is untie one of the ends and then retie the same end to a chair in the Ceremony area. After this comes the curtains for the Pergola where Brandon and I will officially be married. These items I had to poke 2 tiny holes on the upper side of each because what we are using as curtains are actually table runners! (WE ARE IMPROVISING) I placed these holes and threaded a string of Fishing line through each hole, looped it and tied the end. This gives us a string to tie the curtains onto the curtain rod at the entrance of the pergola. As stated in the prior update the curtains/ table runners are about 2 inches short, because of this I gave a little more line so the set-up crew can hang the curtains a little lower. Not to worry you will not be able to see this because the Pergola has the rod located on the inside of the metal frame and we will have a Floral Garland piece hanging across the front top of this shelter. I have done the same thing to the tapestry that will be hanging on the wall behind us under the pergola. The only difference is that I poked three holes, one for the middle and then one on each end, to make the hold more sturdy. We have to take this string and tac it to the back part of the greenery wall because we are unable to place any form of hanging tool on the greenery as to not damage it. These two sections of the Ceremony area I believe are the most complicated and hope that my extra prep will make for a easier and faster set-up. I finally found an Isle Runner that I purchased from Hobby Lobby and have placed an order for the purple flower petals that will outline this runner from amazon. I believe the last bit of décor pertaining to the ceremony is the easel and window that will be placed behind the chairs where the guests will enter.
RECEPTION:
This area of the Wedding Venue has a little more leeway when it comes to set up. Of course the most direction and specific set up will be the reception tables for the guests. The vases for the centerpieces have finally come in and I have evenly poured the purple crystals into the bottom of each vase, they are now packed tightly into a labeled box awaiting water and the floral bouquets which will complete them. Of course this cannot be done until the day off. The floral Vines that will be placed on every other post of the Pavilion has not changed, although I have decided against buying fairy lights to surround them because… well I just did not want the extra cost and we are on a specific schedule to get everything done. One of the only changes made to the Reception décor process are the Table Runners. I realized after reading reviews of the sheer cloths that they are not long enough to cover the full table while still giving the floor length look. I was just going to place them on the tables and go about my day without worrying about buying the rings to cuff the ends, but Brandon wanted that aesthetic (MAINLY BECAUSE HE KNEW I WANTED THAT ELEGANT LOOK) so I went ahead and ordered 11 more table runners, tied them together and placed the rings over each knot so that when it comes to set-up time my generous volunteers will only have to take the purple table runners out of the package, place them on the tables, and pull the rings down on each side. Simple and easy!
I have finally accumulated all of the signage needed for every aspect of this event. One of which came in a packet of three from Michaels; Welcome to Our Wedding, Gifts and Cards, and Find your Seat Acrylic signs, which will all be used in the wedding. The Wedding Schedule Chalkboard and the find your seat sign will be placed on top of the tablecloth covered bar (WE ARE NOT SERVING ALCOHOL). The Welcome to our Wedding sign will be placed on the Favors table along side the back wall of the Manor, accompanied by the “take a favor” sign with the actual favors, and the Wedding Hashtag sign. Michaels also provided me with acrylic Mr. and Mrs. signs that will be housed on the sweetheart table. Moving inside the first room is what I like to call the Piano room where the Cards and Gifts sign will be placed on that specified table. To the right of that will be the Guest book and its appropriate sign. Moving into the next room will house the Wedding Cake on the large round table. This is also the table where the Champaign Flutes, that are currently being monogrammed, and the personalized cake cutting tools, that are packed and ready to go, will be placed. On the smaller table against the left wall will be the Groomsmen cake. The next open space will be where the Buffet/dinner will be held, which I do not have any artistic control over!
That is pretty much all of the décor items and where their home will be for the day! There are a few more items that I am thinking over, but am not sure if I will be adding.
SCHEDULES AND LISTS:
ORGANIZATION! This I think is the most important part when it comes to Wedding Planning. If you are not prepared then everything is going to fall apart, unless you are just lucky. Earlier this month I created a more organized and specific Wedding Day Schedule, Wedding Day Set-up Schedule, Family Photo List, and the Bridal Party Line Up List. All of which have been placed in 5 folders for me, my sister, my Mother-in-Law, Kassy’s co-Wedding Day coordinator Bethany, and an extra one for emergencies!
I believe I have covered everything that has happened in the past few months! I have mainly been focusing on Wedding Day Décor Prep and becoming as Organized as possible with Schedules and Lists. The next steps are too double check everything, speak with my Venders and make sure they have everything they need, make sure the Bridal party has their attire, get a head count for Set-up and Tear-down, make sure everyone knows everything that they need to know, and BREATHE! Have fun and soak up every detail of these last few weeks. I have slowly been adding things to lists on my phone such as, Emergency Kit list, Detail Photo List for the photographer, and what to pack for my Honeymoon! I have definitely had the time of my life planning this ONE day! It has been stressful yet exciting; daunting yet satisfying; and all around a Once and a Lifetime feeling!
Thanks for tuning in to this extensive wedding Update! I am so ready for what the next few weeks bring!
Love Shayna