A Break in the Action - The Details

After we got ready, we had a bit of time before the ceremony.  So did the photographers.  I think this is when most of the "detail" pics were taken.

And, as a bride who agonized and DIY-ed her butt off, these are some of my favorites.  They really capture all the work I put into the planning and I'm so happy that I'll be able to look back on these in the future.

All pics from our photographer, Rodger Obley.  In no particular order...

The Invite 

(which I never got around to actually showing in its final form)

The Cake Topper

Another of our Bird Theme Items

The Escort Cards

One of my very first DIY projects

My bouquet...

And Anthony's bout

A mix of clay flowers, sola flowers, feathers and ribbons

Our Card Box

Some Paper Parasols to shield guests from the sun

(too bad it was a rainy kind of day instead)

The Event Shelter with our Papel Picado, one of my main inspirations

Our Window Program...

And our Bar Menu, both recycled windows

The box that held our rings and 13 coins

A fan on each seat...  Even though it was rainy, it was warm

Our festive ceremony arch

Anthony's family made the traditional flowers for us

(you can see our ring box on the table there)

Our brightly colored sodas...  

So cheerful and a big hit with the younger guests

One of Anthony's big projects: two cornhole sets...

One set in Pittsburgh colors, one in Detroit's

I Love Me Some Paper

When I was little, I would start planning my future birthday parties the day after my birthday.  Seriously.  I'd start thinking about themes, colors, who'd I'd invite and what the invitations would look like.  Obviously, by the time the next birthday rolled around, I'd have changed mostly all of those details...  But, I've always enjoyed lists and planning.

And, I've always loved paper.  Papers and envelopes and matching pens?  Yes, please.

Yet, when it came to planning our wedding, I couldn't commit to a matching suite.  I loved looking at them and using some of the sites with online customization forms to see what our names and details would look like...  Alas, they were not meant to be.

After getting our Save the Dates done and mailed, my attention turned to invitations.  I quickly came to the conclusion that I wanted them to tie into one of our loose themes: vintage Mexicana.  A few Google Images sessions later and I had a few favorite inspiration pieces.

First, there were some sets that were extremely literal representations.  This set could actually pass for papel picado if it was hung up banner style.  I love how delicate they look.  The laser cutting allowed for some amazing details.

from avie designs STATIONERY

Or, the next ones have the banners printed as part of the design.  I like that this version allows for a bit more text.  It incorporates traditional wording but still gets the theme in there.

from BG Design Studio on etsy

There were a bunch of either type out there - laser cut and printed.  But, I really wanted something I could make myself...  Enter the Pazzles die cut machine I bought months ago.

I tried to find something that combined the aspects I liked from the two above and landed on this:

from Weddings by VIP Travel Discounts

I love how this has some cut out areas but still has room for traditional invitation text.  It's simple, unique and has birds!  (Hello, theme two.)

So, I worked for hours (and hours) trying to learn how to use the software that came with the Pazzles.  Finally, I got the hang of it enough to design my own version of a papel picado inspired invitation...  Here are my first two prototypes:

Personal Pics

I'm so excited with the way they've turned out so far.  I have a few tweaks I still want to make and then I can get moving on cutting them...  I have the paper already.

Cobalt and Cream Puff from cards & pockets

The FI has a week long work trip coming up in March.  I might be setting up a workshop in our living room and cutting page after page while I watch chick flicks (I do that every night when he's out of town) and drink wine.  Hopefully, I can get through the 80-100 copies I'll be needing.

Then, I just need to design the text portion, print those, cut them out... and, then glue everything together.  Piece of cake, right?

Did you find yourself doing something completely opposite of your normal for your wedding?  Is a wedding a good opportunity to be different?  Or, is it safer to stick with the tried and true?

Themes - Part One

After picking a venue, the ideas for ceremony and reception decor became a bit overwhelming...  The 1830's farm house at the Conservancy screams for vintage touches.  It has bright, airy spaces that lend themselves well to so many of the vintage wedding pictures I've seen online.

From One Way Street Production

Seriously, it makes me want to buy a bunch of vintage furniture and have flowers in vases all over my house...  That would never actually work because my cats LOVE chewing on plants and knocking things over.  But, I think we can manage to make the look happen for a day (especially if it's not at our house).

So, vintage it will be.

But, what kind of vintage?

Flowers in mason jars or tea tins?  Bunting?  Lace?  Mix matched china?  Vintage luggage?

Vintage Suitcase Card Box from 100 Layer Cake

Some of these were instantly appealing to me - I won an American Tourister Tiara round train case on eBay and I can't wait to set it up with some lace and other small additions as our card box.

Other than that, I was kind of lost.  Then, I realized that I could combine the "vintage" with some of the Mexicana aspects I'd hoped to include.

I love the way papel picado looks strung up for a reception area.  It is delicate and simple and a nice way to incorporate traditional Mexican decorations.

From Painting Bunnies

Next, I saw some pictures of loteria cards used as escort cards.  I loved the colors and youthful feel to this.  And, the FI remembered playing loteria growing up - he was on board with this idea right away.

From Green Wedding Shoes

I stared scouring the web for loteria cards.  But, none of the ones I found felt right.  The colors weren't what I'd hoped for.  They were too bright and new.  Definitely not vintage.

From Amazon

Then, I turned my attention to etsy.  I found this gorgeous set:

From rowan tree design

The colors were perfect and the style of pictures was awesome. I bought a copy of the files and I'm so happy with them.  I reduced the size of the cards to 85% of the originals, put five images on a page and had them printed as invites by vistaprint.  The minimum number to order was ten and there are eight guests per table; so it seemed like a good solution.

I think they look great (personal pic)

Now, I just have to finish cutting the cards out and decide exactly how to present them at the reception.  I'm thinking about vellum envelopes with guests names stood up individually with mini clothespins.

Those are the first few items I've decided will incorporate our first theme: vintage Mexicana.  I still have a long way to go but I'm feeling better now that I have some direction.

Next up, our second theme and why it has become a bit of an inside joke.

Do you think a wedding needs a theme?