{M+D} Reception

Life has been so crazy, I have hardly had time to think about the wedding! Ok, that is a total lie, but I haven't had as much time to write about it. So when last we left our wedding posts, we had just finished cocktail hour. Next up, reception!


I want our reception to be FUN. I want people to have things to do, things to eat, music to dance to, and pictures to take! So, this post is just going to be an overview, and I will try to do more specific aspects soon!


In the decision making zone: I think I have bridesmaids dresses and I know I have invitations/save the dates! Yay! As soon as I get into the swing of things with school I will start on the DIY process. If you know me, you know I can't procrastinate, so I will have things ready way in advance!


So without further ado... the reception:

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What do you think makes a good reception?!?

{M+D} My First Wedding Purchase + Your Opionion...

I have been meaning to go to IKEA for about 3 weeks now, but with the craziness of life, just got there yesterday. Besides falling in love with furniture and buying exciting things like a trashcan and food storage containers, I also made my first wedding purchase!! Yay!

Anybody know where this picture was taken?

While this photo makes it look like I am going to be a mad scientist on my wedding day, I am not. I bought 20 of the vases and the other mystery item for another project. However, today we will focus on the vases. I saw them online and thought they would be great bud vases to use either down the aisle or on some of the tables. I thought I would buy a few. I bought 20. I want more- they are so so so so perfect and cute, and if you clicked on that link you will know that I spent BIG bucks on them. Yup, 79 cents a vase- score!

I attempted to take a good picture of them, alas, I think I failed. BUT, here is my question for you- keep them clear or paint them a glossy white? (There is a poll on the top right of the blog!) And to help your answer, here is some inspiration for both:

White vases

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Clear Glass

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I would love your opinion- the poll is on the top right of the page!

{M+D} Party Time

What is one of the most important parts to any wedding (especially for the guests?)

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The drinks, and in turn, the bar! People stand there, wait there, and mingle there, so I want it to at least have some sort of decoration! Behold, the bar:

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I definitely want to have signature drinks (and mine will definitely have a barber straw in it like the first picture). I think they are fun, and gives the bar a little personality. Any guesses as to what ours will be?!?

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This is a cute way to let the guests know what is being served.

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I love this bar! Just flip that W over and make it an M! Our bar will be more like a normal wedding bar, but I think if dressed up with initials, a cute sign, or some other decoration our guests will have a pleasant bar experience!

{M+D} Aisle Style

Now that we have heard all about Danny's adventures, back to wedding central! Everyone is dressed (you can check out the boys, girls, and me), and we have a venue, so we have to start decorating! John Wooden said: "...details are vital. It's the little things that make big things happen." I totally agree with this- I think that it will be the little touches that will make the day special, the little things that make you think that is so Madeline and Dan! Or wow, they took the time to think about that! The big picture is important, but it is made up of tons of little details that I want to get right!


So, I want our aisle / ceremony set up to be beautiful! It is the place I will be getting married in after all! I am not quite sure if I want to do anything up where we are getting married-- I need to go see the space again. Basically it is an alter, set up a few steps, and in the corner of the stone wall. Behind it, you can see an old barn. I think that it is beautiful on its own, but I might want something on the steps? Or up on the alter... not sure.


As for the seating, here is my inspiration:

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I love the look of the small vases with flowers.

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I obviously am not getting married in a space like this, but the beautiful simplicity of the ribbons is wonderful.

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The flower petal initial is so so unique!

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I love baby's breath used as a focal point instead of a filler. All together it makes such a statement!


Any other good idea for dressing up the aisle? I want something that can be easily moved (since other things will be taking place in the space later) but that also makes the ceremony space special. 

{M+D} Let's hear it for the girls!

Bridesmaid dresses. To most, it is a horrible phrase. They even made a movie about how bad bridesmaids dresses can be, and mocking the phrase "at least they can wear it again!" I will admit, bridesmaids dress shopping is hard. I want all my girls to look good and they all have different body types, hair colors, skin tones, and styles. I want them to be comfortable and feel beautiful, too! So, what to do, what to do....


My colors are pink, grey, and white. BUT, I feel like the pink is so muted, everyone will be washed out by them.

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(These girls are all nice and tan, so it works a little better... but they have no shape, or style really and definitely would not be worn again.)


And grey dresses with grey tuxes, might be grey overload.

 

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These dresses are pretty, and maybe with white on top would give contract to the guys tuxes... but still unsure.

So, what I really want is...pattern!

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I love this dress! And it comes in three different styles... but it might be a little bright. My color is a lighter pink, but I definitely want to use different shades to give depth. It could be catigorized under the "fun" aspect of the wedding style, but would probably look a little funny next to a grey tux though... However, I think if we used pattern, we would be able to bring in the pink and white and still look pretty. Any suggestions? I can't seem to find patterned bridesmaid dresses anywhere. Or regular dresses in a pattern I like.

Oh, and I can't forget my little girls! I have the two most adorable flower girls! My inspiration for them is tutus!

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Dan's mom owns a dance studio, so Danny grew up dancing, along with his sisters and now my flower girls! I think they would be fun while still be elegant and I know the girls will feel right at home in them. Plus, you can't get much cuter than a tutu!

{M+D} Groom styling

Ok, so we have the venue, you've seen the overall feel I am going for, and the way that I want to look on the day. Next up, the groom! This, in some ways was a little difficult, in others, so easy. Dan, as usual, knew what he wanted. He was wearing a tux. Think black, think James Bond. Done. Well... with all of the soft colors of the wedding and the more relaxed feel, we (okay, I) thought the tux may be too stuffy. But, he is the groom, and this is important to him, so what to do, what to do. Compromise, of course. So, here is the groom (and all the guys!) inspiration:

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The compromise, you ask? Grey tuxes! They are softer, but still elegant and beautiful, and still a tux. Hopefully, we will be able to find some beautiful ones. And, of course, fun accessories: a beautiful tie, or maybe all different ties, and fun socks! I LOVE fun socks and Dan and I went knee sock bowling on one of our first dates!

Another knee sock bowling date

So, I think with beautiful grey tuxes and fun accessories the guys will look awesome and ready to dance the night away!

{M+D} Registry Must Haves

Tonight, truly is the end of an era. I will go see Harry Potter, the 7th film part II, with my sister (chances are, we saw the first movie together, so it is kind of fitting). I remember my first time seeing the books, I was in Downtown Winchester at The Winchester Book Gallery and they looked so cool. And I wanted them so bad. Mom bought me the first one and I loved it and couldn't wait for the rest. I was 11 and in elementary school. Now I am 23, and getting married. Time goes by way too fast!


But on a wedding related note, Dan and I have been setting up our registries. I know, I know this does not need to be done so soon, but with Danny so far away it was one thing that he could really help with. Nowadays, many couples have lived together or are older when they get married, thus they have a lot of the stuff that they need for their home. Dan and I have pretty much lived in college & military housing, so we need everything. It is really fun to think that everyone we love will help us turn our first house into our home, and all of those things will be with us for a long time! I can't wait- to have Dan back and to set up our first house!


So, my question to you is what do I need on my registry? Sure, I have all the basics (dishes, towels, bedding, et cetera) , but what is that one thing in your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or anywhere that you just couldn't live without?

{M+D} THE Dress

I have a confession. I have not been THAT in to finding my wedding dress. Yes, it will be my most photographed article of clothing I ever wear, and I want to love it, but I don't spend hours looking at dresses online. I don't want a HUGE Cinderella dress. I don't want to be on Say Yes to the Dress. I do, however, want to say "yes" to some dress at some time.


In my day-to-day life, I am not what I would call a weird dresser. I wear jeans and t-shirts most of the time, and usually they are pretty plain. Most of my wardrobe comes from such out-there places as J-Crew and Ann Taylor Loft, but when I put on a really dressy dress, it usually is a little out there. Examples:

Prom, Junior Year

Prom, Sophomore Year

Yes, I wore a fire colored dress with millions of sequins and a black and white dress (with an awesome back & a mermaid bottom) and gloves. Who was I? I have no idea, but I loved those dresses! It was fun being different. Now, I am not saying that I want to wear bright orange on my wedding day, but I just don't want to be too traditional. I want something I can actually move in, something that is comfortable to dance in, something that is elegant but still fun (remember my wedding planning words!) and something that is beautiful. So without further embarrassment with high school photos, here are my dress inspirations!

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Source: watters.com via Madeline on Pinterest

Any favorites? Any other ideas? Hopefully, we will go dress shopping soon- perhaps that will make me catch the wedding dress bug, or at least give me an idea of what I want!

{M+D} Invitation Inspiration

There is so much amazing wedding inspiration out there that I decided to collect things that I love about each part of the wedding. I am trying to start at the beginning (the invitation) and go through the wedding until the end (the exit?) Again, this is inspiration and how and if each picture will manifest itself in my own wedding is questionable! I don't want to show you too much!


I LOVE paper. I LOVE words. I was an English major, and I love love love seeing the words that mean so much look just as pretty on the paper. Consequently, I love looking at invitations and seeing what they actually say about the person and what the design and style says about the person. The words that I have come up with for the wedding are modern, elegant, & fun! So, combining those will be the challenge!

Source: ohsobeautifulpaper.com via Madeline on Pinterest

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Source: ohsobeautifulpaper.com via Madeline on Pinterest

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Source: google.com via Madeline on Pinterest

Modern: clean lines, simple fonts
Elegant: soft colors, beautiful fonts
Fun: washi tape, baker's twine, envelope liners, kraft paper


It is so fun to have the paper say things about you and be a preview for what is to come at the wedding! Having all the paper details match also creates a cohesive feel to the wedding, so making sure you get it right is important! So much fun!