So I have been contemplating writing this post because I don't want to face this reality.  I don't want to even digest this as an option even though its the right thing to do.

I have had to do the worst (well, not really) thing in wedding planning history and change my date.  I have decided to change it due to promises that have to be fulfilled, indecisiveness and not being where I want to be in the planning process.

My husband promised our children a Disney World Trip next summer and I cannot even fathom paying for Disney AND a renewal at the same time.  It would be totally selfish of me to tell my children "You have to wait until Mommy and Daddy have their wedding renewal to go to the most magical place on Earth!"  Also, there are so many open-ended projects and decisions that need making to make this day come together as I would want it to.  I have been to TOO many weddings (or events for that matter) that look as if they were just thrown together to let that be my day!  We are paying for this, so it's going to be everything that I have wanted and more!

Are you invited?...

Happy Summer Everyone!  Today I wanted to share with you a site that I was told about from my manager (who is getting married this September, Congrats Jenna!!!) called Wedding Paper Divas that provide low cost, beautiful invitations for your special day.  As soon as she told me about it, I went on the site and checked it out.  To my surprise (and advantage) they were holding a special promotion where you could get 8 samples for free and also have them shipped for free!  I jumped on it immediately!!! 

Updating...

Hey Loves!  Just giving you an update on where I am on the planning.  So far, I have found a photographer, which is a friend of mine that I had the pleasure of decorating for her wedding about 5 years ago.  She is a photographer and she has the kind of eye that I am looking for.  With me trying to start out in the same field, I am really picky about what I want done and how I want it to look.  I already know that I want to shoot my "getting ready" pics and video (dont ask me how, but it's gonna happen!).  These will be memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life and I know that she will do a great job at capturing the evening.

D.I.Y. ♥ My Brooch Bouquet: the update...

I started on my brooch bouquet last week and little did I know, it would be SO time consuming.  I dont know if its because I want it to be PERFECT or if I was nervous with making it.  WHATEVER the case, it's extremely time consuming (which I dont mind).  Remember what I started off with?

 Well they have been taken apart, stemmed and wrapped.

Remember the bracelets?

 

They are going to be great as fillers of the bouquet.

Right now, I have a total of 22 that are done, including the fillers.  I have been going back and forward about maybe putting silk flowers in the bouquet, but I really dont know.  I kinda didn't want to have any flowers in the equation, but I am playing with the thought.  I have a few more that came in the mail yesterday, so I am going to stem and wrap them and then start my search for more.  I will be back on I am ready to continue on to the next step, which is creating the bouquet.  If you would like to see the original post I wrote, click me!  Let me know what your thoughts are!

♥Chanda

D.I.Y. ♥ My Brooch Bouquet: the beginning...

How excited am I???  EXTREMELY!  I am going to be starting on my brooch bouquet that I have been planning for the last couple months.  As soon as I knew that I wanted this kind, I started doing tons of research on what I would need and how to create it.  I came across an awesome tutorial and I am going to pattern mine after it.  Not completely though, I want my own special touches on it.

I went to Michael's a couple weeks ago and grabbed up some of their clearance brooches/jewelry and I also ordered a few off of Ebay (I am still waiting on a few).  I plan on raiding some yard/estate sales and some thrift stores to see if I can score some good ones as well.  But this is what I have thus far!

 maybe I should start proofreading! Gauge not "guage"

 one of my FAVORITE stories!

I know, I spelled "filigree" wrong, lol

(the bracelets I took apart and I am going to use the pieces as fillers in the bouquet)

Now at this point, only thing I am concerned with is getting the stems started.  I also used wire cutters for the floral wire.  When I started picking the brooches/jewelry I wanted, I kept in mind:

• my dress style-I wanted to make sure that the design of each piece would coincide with how my dress is constructed and the overall feel of the event.
• colors-while I have seen many brooch bouquets that are vivid in color and they look amazing, I am choosing to stay more muted with the tones that I pick.  I am throwing in hints of color, but nothing too outrageous.  
• creativity-the functioning locket will be used to having something stored in it of importance to me.
• metal type-that also falls within the color because obviously different metals have different hues.
• how big/small/round or square they are.  I am going for ALL different shapes.  I have a few different sizes that I am working with, some as main pieces and some are fillers. 

There are a few other factors, but these are the most important ones to me.  Ready...Set...let's GO!

First off is the wiring of the pieces.  It helps if they have loops of some sort on them to wrap the wires around.  Also, the heavier the piece, the more wire you should use.  I have even read on some blogs that you may have to go with a more dense wire for bigger pieces.   only had to double the wires (so far) and that gave it enough security for the bigger ones that I have done.

Then comes the taping of the wire.  I used floral tape (which I have used before in creating bouquets and centerpieces for other events that I've helped create decorations for, works perfectly) to bind the wires together.  I tried to have my wires come as close to the same length as possible, but it doesn't have to be perfect.  Once done with them all, they can be trimmed to the same length.

(sorry for my nails...they look HORRID, I know)

♥Chanda

My Thoughts ♥ Headbands

I have been SCOURING the internet in search of the perfect headband to wear for the renewal and either its not really what I had in mind or I find it and the prices are CRAZY ASTRONOMICAL!!!  I am not a tiara girl simply because of the dress style and its just really not me (I know, hard to believe).

What I have in mind is something EXTREMELY close to this. (oh gosh, this is beautiful)

 (picture courtesy of MillieICARO on Etsy)

But with all of the love and the beautiful craftsmanship and delicate materials used in this, comes a pretty hefty price of $285.  My dress was about $1200 (after my employee discount), so I really dont want to put that much of an investment into a headpiece.  

So I have decided to embark on the journey to (attempt to) create my own headband.  What better reason to head back out to crafts stores (which I love)?  I have it perfectly mapped out in my head the colors I want and a concept, but not necessarily how I want it to look.  The above pictured headband is SO close and if we weren't paying for this ourselves, then of course, I would splurge.  But I think the dress set me WAY over the limit of what I wanted to indulge on me for this thing!  I still have to consider jewelry and shoes.  Luckily, I am my own hairdresser and makeup artist for that day, lol!  

Here are a few more pictures of some headbands that I like, all from Etsy!

Zara Bella Couture, $69.95 (very reasonable)

Live In Style, $36 (who can beat this price)

Lucia Bella1

Brittany Lumsden

We shall see what exactly the endeavor will bring.  Worst Case Scenario?  Caving in and buying one of these!  Once I begin, you know I will let you know!  I have already started getting some of the brooches for my brooch bouquet, which I plan on starting really soon.  

See you guys soon!

♥Chanda