My engagement party and wedding planning weekend!

[sumbride]

I just got back from another whirlwind wedding planning weekend in Texas, and this one included an engagement party with about 250 of my mom''s closest friends. I told FMIL to consider it a wedding preview because she was completely overwhelmed. It was actually kind of a low turnout because there were 4 other events going on that evening in town that competed. I did learn, however, that my mom can''t do math. She told me she invited about 400 people, but when I looked at the guest list spreadsheet, it had 392 lines... that said "Mr. and Mrs."!!! I said "MOM! You invited 400 COUPLES!! That''s 800 people!!!" She was stunned. Good thing they didn''t all show up... the room was kind of small. And continuing the numbers issue... when I looked through the list I noticed a lot of people were still missing from it. She''d forgotten her cousins and many of the business people that I actually know and would like to come! So now I''m looking at ordering 550 invitations... shudder.... I''m hoping that for many people they''ll be more like "announcements" but I''ve been told we HAVE to invite them. It''s been a bit of an issue.

The party WAS fun though we''ve definitely ruled out any possibility of a receiving line at the wedding. All we did for the majority of the party was shake hands and say "Hi, thank you for coming! It''s so nice to meet you/good to see you again." It was exhausting!!! I did have mom put out a guest book though so I could know exactly who was there. I didn''t get but a bite of food at the party, and only half a glass of wine as it made me start to sweat and ugh, I didn''t want that! I did know a lot of the people there, and everyone was so nice. We even got a few gifts, which isn''t common at Southern engagement parties.

One of my bridesmaids came and took a quick pic of us beforehand! We didn''t plan to color coordinate like that, but it worked out.

The rest of the weekend was cake tasting, tux selection, etc.... all with FMIL in town. My mom handled her VERY well.

 

[FireGoddess]

Cute pic! (Wow, you guys look like you did coordinate colors!) Your wedding is going to be ENORMOUS!!! That''s twice as many invitations as I had guests!!!

 

[basil]

Oh my, you''re seriously inviting 1000 people to your wedding!! Managing the guest list is going to be a full-time job once the RSVPs start coming in!

Sounds like a fun weekend, and cute picture!

 

[sumbride]

It''s going to be INSANE. I''m kind of bummed that it''s gotten so out of control, but I am hopeful that they won''t all show up. A good portion of them are out of the area, and I''m hoping our only out of town guests are the ones WE as a couple know personally! M was pretty impressed that the mayor came to our party, but he goes everywhere! I met him at the mall with my dad a couple of years ago.

As for the RSVPs, it looks like it might indeed end up being a full-time job! My mom has several employees that have been helping her with the wedding thus far, and they are my unofficial wedding planners and official RSVP keepers. It''s funny because I actually WORK in databases but my mom set up the wedding database! I had to talk her through it.

 

[anchor31]

The picture is great, you two look so happy!

That sounds completely crazy... I hope you''ll be happy with it!

 

[zoebartlett]

Wow Sum -- 550 invitations?! I don''t think my family KNOWS 550 people!

It sounds like the evening went well, but it''s too bad you didn''t get to enjoy much of the food at your own party.

You look beautiful by the way! What a great picture of you and M. You know you have to tell us all about the big day once you come back...oh yeah, and of course, post pics. I know it''s not for a while, but still...

 

[zoebartlett]

I forgot to ask, where did you get your dress and sweater? I love them and I''m looking for something to wear to my cousin''s wedding next month.

 

[bee*]

Great photo sum!!

Wow-you are going to have one HUGE wedding!

 

[MustangFan]

did you have a photographer there? That pic looks so professional!
You guys are very cute and happy!

I can''t believe you know THAT many people my wedding with be 65-75 I''m terrible at math but that''s like 1/6 of your wedding! lol

 

[robbie3982]

What a great picture! Holy cow! I seriously can''t believe you''re having that many people!!! I don''t think we could come up with that many if we invited everyone we knew and asked them to bring a guest!

 

[onedrop]

I love the picture of you two! I cannot imagine 400-500 in one room. I don''t even know that many people!! Hopefully things won''t be too-too crazy. And forget about getting around to greeting every guest at the wedding, which is why it''s great to have other events surrounding the wedding so that you can actually speak to everyone at some point.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Sum- Glad to hear that you lived through your e-party and wedding planning weekend- even with your FMIL around!

You look sooo lovely in the pic you posted. Do you plan to have one on display at your wedding? That one would be soo perfect.

 

[sumbride]

Zoe - The dress is Maggy London from Nordstroms. I believe it was around $180 but it was FABULOUS. Felt wonderful on and is very well made! I''ll definitely be wearing it again. It wasn''t actually a sweater... just a shawl I bought at the Jones New York outlet.

The lady that took the picture actually IS a professional wedding photographer! She''s my friend and bridesmaid, but she told me she wanted to party at my wedding rather than shoot so I had to hire someone else for the actual wedding. She''s amazing, and actually, I wouldn''t have been able to afford her! She charges a LOT but she''s worth it! She told us she''d do another couple of shoots for us this summer when she comes up to see me in Maryland so we can get some DC shots and Baltimore shots. Then I''ll decide what to use for the wedding display photo.

As for the quantity of people... My parents have lived in the area 30 years, own a company, and are on all sorts of boards. My mom literally went through the Rotary directory, the church directory, all their board rosters, the employees that I actually know, and then family, old friends, etc, etc, etc.... Just when she thought she had everyone, I said "what about so and so..." and she would smack her forehead and write them down! I go back and forth on whether it really bothers me... as long as the people that I really care about are there, the rest are just background, but it''s going to be a "wedding weekend" so we''ll get to spend more time with those that traveled and family. The weird part now is writing thank you notes for gifts from people I''ve NEVER met! "thank you for the beautiful Waterford goblets! I hope to meet you at the wedding.... " (don''t worry, that''s NOT what I''ll write!)

 

[Independent Gal]

Hiya Summer,

In addition to sharing everyones'' "

" about your guest list and Zoe''s "

" about your dress, I have to say, your lipstick kicks a$$. What colour is that? It looks so great on you.

 

[sumbride]

Ha, I wish I knew! Thank you!!

I just bought this set from Sephora and it''s the third row from the left, third one down! Wish I could buy it individually!