Planning update!

[Mandarine]

Hi girls!!! Sorry I''ve been MIA, but I do read your posts, you''re all making so much progress!!!!

Well, not much to update you on!...just working ona few things...

Venue: Check (www.spanishmonastery.com)

Church: Check

Photographer: Since I have a small budget, I decided to email the local Art Institute for recent graduates. This one girl emailed me and she is SO MUCH cheaper than the other photographers I have seen. I saw some of her work (including the big photo album we will get) and I loved her work. She is very artistic and we all seemed to get along. I am getting a lot for the money too! ($1200 for full day of photography the day of -from getting ready to the after hour party-, engagement session, CD with full rights to the pictures for both sessions, big photo album with digital images -25 pages- and like $150 in prints). I still haven''t signed the contract but think I will...Are there any things I need to make sure are written on the contract??

Caterers: I am working with the Paella caterers...I''m down to two!....and it will come down to taste!

Flowers and decor: Decided on Ivory, Gold/Champagne touches of light greens and brown....with LOTS of candles!

Cocktail hour musician: We found a Spanish guitarist at a great price (still haven''t booked) to play Flamenco style music...we will serve sangria...it will be fun!

DJ: Got a few options from the girls on the knot, just have to devote some time to it!!!

Hotels for OOT guests: This is where it gets sticky!. We were originally having the wedding on 2/15. Well, it turns out that this weekend is the "Boat Show" in South Florida so hotels are crazy expensive, not to mention that they are all requiring a 4 day minimum stay!. We have a lot of OOT guests so this is really stressing me out!. I caleld the venue and chrch and can change the date to 2/8 or 2/22. Should I change it?. I had liked the idea of 2/15 because it was a long weekend (President''s Day) and epople could make it a mini-vacation. I am leaning towards changing it to the 22nd, (firts because I love all the 2''s! hehe) and also because the weather might be better)....but is it a pain for guests to travel out Friday when the previous Monday was a Holiday??. Thoughts?

I still need to decide what to do in regards to favors, invitations, etc. Is it cheaper to DIY or to get them online??. I initially thought of DIY (all stationary) but I''m thinking that I might end up spending more....

Anyway, so that''s my update!.

This weekend was my birthday, here is a pic of me and FI

(don''t know why but my face looks kind of funny...I think the guy taking the picture had just said a little joke, my FI hair looks a little crazy for some reason!)

M~

 

[janinegirly]

hi!!! great to hear from you and hope you won''t disappear again! it sounds like you got a lot done and found some great finds (espeicially the photog, wow!). i''m really impressed!!

and that photo is amazing, i don''t know why you think either of you looks funny. You look so glamorous and your FI is so good looking. I don''t normally say things like that, but c''mon!

 

[Mandarine]

Hey Janine!!!...thanks!!

Isn''t that a great deal for the photographer?....and I''m telling you, she has some great pictures and is not like a cheesy cheap photographer at all!....She started at $1,500 and now the $1,200 is her final offer, I think I have to accept!!, just want to make sure the contract is all spelled out.

I read your post about your FMIL wearing ivory....what the h$eck is that about? I would be so mad!. My FMIL is not causing much trouble (at least not yet!) haha...she has made small comments about things, but FI is her only son so I understand....she just wants to feel like she''s involved, etc...which is not a problem, she was a big help finding the musician for the cocktail hour!

I think you can definitely pull a wedding in a tight budget, you just have to be very creative and just be wise on where you spend your money. Having a budget set up (itemized) has been big help in keeping me honest and finding ways to make it work...

Good to hear from you!!!

M~

 

[janinegirly]

mandarine, your photog price is great. and you did a smart thing by going to the institute---most of those people will be talented but no references/portfolio yet (which is what you need to get started) so will do it cheap (but still quality!)

you''re right that a tight budget is possible if one''s creative, i just find i don''t have much energy for creativity on top of everything! so i just cut some things out or realize smaller guest list is necessary. my budget is still better than most (so i should be grateful), but puny by NYC standards.

and thanks for agreeing with me on FMIL! but at this point, i think i just have to suck it up. i think she can''t afford (or doesn''t want to) a new dress. i''m just not understanding why she''s going to her 2nd wedding as a parent wearing ivory with no one saying a word. i mean even a different colored shawl would make it better (that''s ivory too). my mom told me to just keep mum about it and leave it be.

keep us posted on the rest of the planning! is your FI helping/excited? I''m sure he is..he''s still smiling ear to ear

 

[Mandarine]

I guess your mom is right...better to just ignore her...you will be the one everyone will be looking at anyway!!!!!

My FI is still very excited and so am I!!. It''s so crazy to think that before we know it we will be husband and wife!!! so exciting!!!!!!

He has two main tasks to accomplish: alcohol (tell me how much, where to buy, etc) and help me with negotiations!....he''s happy with his tasks so far

Did you finally pick a song for your first dance?

M~

 

[zoebartlett]

Hi Mandarine,

Good to hear from you! I''ve been wondering how the wedding planning is going. Glad to hear things are going well. I love the picture of you and your fiancee.

Zoe

 

[Mandarine]

Thank you Zoe!!!. Wedding planning is going, slowly but surely

M~

 

[neatfreak]

You''re a smart girl Mandarine!!! I was going to call the local art school in San Francisco, but instead I posted an ad on craigslist for photographers looking to update/expand their resume.

I got TONS of replies and in the end I am going with someone who does it on the "side" right now, has tons of gorgeous photos from a few weddings on her website, and is only going to charge me $150 for the shooting and a CD plus $250 for editing if we want it. It''s amazing what you can get if you ask!! Might be a bit risky in our situation...but we''re willing to risk it for the incredible price plus the fact that ALL of our family members love to take pictures, so there will be backups there too.

I am so jealous of your sangria too!!!

 

[Mandarine]

Sangria is so easy!!!! You can find great recipes and this will save you a lot of money!....a little wine goes a LONG way when you are making Sangria!. Since we are buying our own alcohol, we can just buy a few extra bottles of wine for the sangria..

I''m thinking of doing something to link the Sangria into the favors, so people have something to take home (maybe a little bottle with the Sangria recipe or something?)....

The opportunities are endless

wow I thought my photos were cheap! you did great!!!!!!!!!!!

M~

 

[anchor31]

Go Mandarine! Sounds like your doing great!

 

[basil]

Yeay! It sounds like it''s going to be really fun! I admire your short engagement too...I''m planning 1.5 years in advance (will have been engaged 2 years by the time of the wedding) and I''m really starting to wish it were sooner...

 

[akw94]

Mandarine, Hi!

That''s a great pic of you and your FI. Looks like you''re on your way in terms of planning.

I think that invitations are cheaper to DIY but it depends what you like, same goes w/favors IMO. I''m doing simple invites, buying from Michael''s and since my guest list is rather small, it will cost between $40-$50. As for favors, the possibilities vary so much. I''m going to make iced sugar cookies and put 2 in some form of cute, little bag as favors. I don''t expect that to cost too much, just cookie ingredients and the bags. There are obviously other favors out there that cost much more or some that you can just buy vs producing yourself.
I would say start looking around on the internet to get a feel for what you like w/invites and favors and then you can hunt down the best prices.

The paella and Spanish guitarist sound great!

Good luck w/everything!!