I am so excited about things happening with regards to this wedding and to other things in life. First I will talk about what is great about the wedding planning!
We have paid nearly everything off! We have paid off the caterer, the ceremony site, the save-the-dates, the invitations, the tuxedo rentals, my dress/accessories, the transportation, the ceremony musicians, and the justice of the peace. We still owe the photographer; which won't be given until after we receive the pictures. We also owe the last half of our rental contract. I also owe for my hair/make-up and my bridesmaids' hair. We also need to pay for the marriage license, Steve's ring, the jr. groomsmen and ring bearer gifts, and the remainder of the alcohol; but that is all that we have left to pay for! I am so excited that we have so few things left!
I was also looking over my budget chart, yes I made one! I looked at what we saved by doing things ourselves and what we have saved by asking people that I know to help us with the wedding. I will list below what we have saved:
Catering: Quoted by other caterers, $15,000; price we are paying, $7,500; amount we saved $7,500
Cake: Quoted $1000; included with caterer; saved $1000
Photography: Quoted $5000+; price we are paying, $2000; amount we save, $3000
Transportation; Quoted $600; paying $500; saved $100
JOP: Quoted $250; paying $100; saved $150
Music: Quoted $3000 for DJ and ceremony; paying $500 for ceremony as my cousin is DJing/MCing as our gift; saved $2500
Favors: Priced out about $250; made self for $175; saved $75
Invitations: Priced for $600; made self for $125; saved $475
Dress/Accessories: Priced out for $1000; paid $700; save $300
Ceremony Site: Priced out $900; paid $600; saved $300
Between all of the savings by doing things myself or from asking favors of friends, we have saved roughly $15,400. Now, by no means is our wedding a cheap one, but we are getting a wedding that could have easily cost closer to $45,000!! I think we are doing AMAZING by saving what we have been able to save by asking friends to help out. I am incredibly proud of what we have put together so far, and cannot wait for our wedding day! I know we will save even more before the wedding actually happens as well!
So, today we paid all of the tuxedo rentals, which took an incredibly long time to do. The guy had to enter 13 different people into the computer system, and that took a while. We were able to get everything picked out and paid for, so now that is one less thing on the wedding list to do!
We sent off the final check to the caterer. We understand that we will have less people than the price quote included, but Steve would rather get the money to the people we owe now, and then be credited back after all is said and done.
We have also been pre-approved for a mortgage, and we will be looking at our first house on Monday. It is incredibly exciting to start this process together. I love living here with his parents, as it saves us a TON of money, but we have been her for 3 1/2 years, and it is truly time for us to be out on our own. I would ideally love to be in a house before my bridal shower, which is on April 30th, but I know that is pushing it a bit! If we can be in a house a few months before the wedding I would be incredibly happy.
I know I will probably fall in love with the first house, but when it is the first one you look at, it will be special, But once you look at more and more houses, the image of the first one will be lost, unless it is truly the right house. We will be looking at one that is 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, with just over 2500 square feet, and has an in-ground pool on Monday. It is one we have looked at several times over the last few months and now that we are meeting with a realtor and have been pre-approved, we are finally going to get a look at it. It would be nice to absolutely love it and buy it, but that is a bit of a fantasy!
I will certainly update now that house-hunting is part of the wedding planning! Wish us luck!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Did my DIY card box!
So I worked on my card box today. I think it came out FABULOUS!! I still have to cover the base with batting and fabric, as well as cover the top with batting and fabric. Steve and I also need to pick out 2 more pictures to put in the frames, but other than that it is done!!
I used 4 11" x 13" frames that I got at Christmas Tree shop for $7 each. I also bought L-brackets, screws, duct tape, foam board, and a lazy-susan from Wal-Mart. I followed the directions from my previous post. I turned my picture frames sideways, rather than up and down. I liked the lower profile of it, and it seemed bigger to me that way. The post on how to do the DIY card box shows the woman doing her picture frames upright. It looked nice, but I wanted mine sideways!!
If you want the directions, read my blog from January 5th, or go to http://roadtotheaisle.blogspot.com/2007/09/diy-photo-frame-cardbox.html.
I am so happy with how it came out. I tried using hot glue to hold the brackets, but because the wood is so shiny they kept peeling off. I finally had to find some screws to use. The ones that came with the brackets were a bit too long and would have gone right through the frame, so I have to scrounge around in the basement and find shorter ones. All of the screws are different, so it looks interesting on the inside; but no one will see that!
I am not sure if I want to cover the whole base with fabric or just the edges. I will most likely do the whole base because it will be easier with the batting just to do the whole things rather than bits and pieces.
Let me know what you think of the card box!
I used 4 11" x 13" frames that I got at Christmas Tree shop for $7 each. I also bought L-brackets, screws, duct tape, foam board, and a lazy-susan from Wal-Mart. I followed the directions from my previous post. I turned my picture frames sideways, rather than up and down. I liked the lower profile of it, and it seemed bigger to me that way. The post on how to do the DIY card box shows the woman doing her picture frames upright. It looked nice, but I wanted mine sideways!!
If you want the directions, read my blog from January 5th, or go to http://roadtotheaisle.blogspot.com/2007/09/diy-photo-frame-cardbox.html.
I am so happy with how it came out. I tried using hot glue to hold the brackets, but because the wood is so shiny they kept peeling off. I finally had to find some screws to use. The ones that came with the brackets were a bit too long and would have gone right through the frame, so I have to scrounge around in the basement and find shorter ones. All of the screws are different, so it looks interesting on the inside; but no one will see that!
I am not sure if I want to cover the whole base with fabric or just the edges. I will most likely do the whole base because it will be easier with the batting just to do the whole things rather than bits and pieces.
Let me know what you think of the card box!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wine Box Ceremony
I had never heard of this, but it sounds interesting. Here is some information about what it is!
Love Letter & Wine Box Ceremony
Here's an idea that will certainly grab the attention of the guests, add some pizazz to your ceremony and incorporate a new twist into your celebration.
Here is what you will need:
Be creative with the box by putting foam inside to support the wine bottle. Line the inside with satin material. You can also include CDs of your favorite music, favorite pictures of you together, and other mementos making it your own romantic time capsule. Keep the box in a place of honor as a constant visual reminder of your love and commitment to each other. The box can be a life preserver in years to come.
The Wine Box should be opened on your 5th wedding anniversary.
There is only one other reason the box should be opened before your anniversary. If there should come a time when you hit a bumpy road in your relationship, before you give up or make any irrational decisions, open the Wine Box. The hope is that there will never be a reason to have to open the box except on your anniversary!
Hit a rough spot in your relationship? Sit down together, open the box, uncork the wine and unseal the envelopes that you wrote for one another before your wedding, go to separate rooms and quietly read the love letter.
Even if you are not seeing eye-to-eye at that very moment, it will remind you of all the reasons you choose this person as your partner and all the things that helped shape the life they've created together. Never take your blessings of being together for granted.
The romantic sentiments you wrote, the declaration of love, the clear thoughts about why you chose this person as your life partner will help put you back on even ground. This is the perfect ritual to remind you of your wedding day and your intention to love and cherish each other in good times and bad for as long as you both shall live.
Toward the end of your ceremony the Officiant will state the purpose of the "Love Letter & Wine Box Ceremony."
The Officiant will elaborate on the reasons for the sealed love letters, place the sealed envelopes in with the wine bottle and will speak about the exercise that you went through. It should be emphasized that the letters have not been read by the Officiant or by anyone else.
The box will then be nailed shut (or locked). The Officiant begins with the first nail, followed by the Bride and Groom sealing the box shut. You can have each member of your wedding party step up and nail the box shut.
If you use a custom made wine box with two keys, the bride and groom each use a key and lock the box.
Your guests will be pleased to have been a witness to something so unique and different at your wedding ceremony.
• • • Love Letter & Wine Box Ceremony Minister: _____ and _____ have chosen as a couple to perform a Love Letter & Wine Box ceremony.
This box contains a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a love letter from each to the other. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and they have not seen what the other has written. You have created your very own "romantic" time capsule to be opened on your 5th wedding anniversary.
I recommend that you keep the box in a place of honor prominently displayed in your home as a constant reminder of your commitment to each other.
Minister: _____ and _____ should you ever find your marriage enduring insurmountable hardships, you are to as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple in marriage. By reading these love letters you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today.
The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box. And if this is the case, you are to open this box to share and enjoy on your 5th year wedding anniversary!
Minister: _____ and _____, you may now seal the box.
NOTE: The minister drives the first nail, then the bride and groom nail the box shut. You can also have each member of your wedding party step up, drive in one nail to help nail the box shut.
If you use a custom made wine box with two keys, the bride and groom each use a key and lock the box.
Love Letter & Wine Box Ceremony
Here's an idea that will certainly grab the attention of the guests, add some pizazz to your ceremony and incorporate a new twist into your celebration.
Here is what you will need:
- A wooden wine box
- a bottle of your favorite wine
- two love letters sealed in separate envelopes
- a small hammer and several nails
- A Custom Made Wine Box with two keys.
- Personalized Wine Boxes.
Be creative with the box by putting foam inside to support the wine bottle. Line the inside with satin material. You can also include CDs of your favorite music, favorite pictures of you together, and other mementos making it your own romantic time capsule. Keep the box in a place of honor as a constant visual reminder of your love and commitment to each other. The box can be a life preserver in years to come.
The Wine Box should be opened on your 5th wedding anniversary.
There is only one other reason the box should be opened before your anniversary. If there should come a time when you hit a bumpy road in your relationship, before you give up or make any irrational decisions, open the Wine Box. The hope is that there will never be a reason to have to open the box except on your anniversary!
Hit a rough spot in your relationship? Sit down together, open the box, uncork the wine and unseal the envelopes that you wrote for one another before your wedding, go to separate rooms and quietly read the love letter.
Even if you are not seeing eye-to-eye at that very moment, it will remind you of all the reasons you choose this person as your partner and all the things that helped shape the life they've created together. Never take your blessings of being together for granted.
The romantic sentiments you wrote, the declaration of love, the clear thoughts about why you chose this person as your life partner will help put you back on even ground. This is the perfect ritual to remind you of your wedding day and your intention to love and cherish each other in good times and bad for as long as you both shall live.
Toward the end of your ceremony the Officiant will state the purpose of the "Love Letter & Wine Box Ceremony."
The Officiant will elaborate on the reasons for the sealed love letters, place the sealed envelopes in with the wine bottle and will speak about the exercise that you went through. It should be emphasized that the letters have not been read by the Officiant or by anyone else.
The box will then be nailed shut (or locked). The Officiant begins with the first nail, followed by the Bride and Groom sealing the box shut. You can have each member of your wedding party step up and nail the box shut.
If you use a custom made wine box with two keys, the bride and groom each use a key and lock the box.
Your guests will be pleased to have been a witness to something so unique and different at your wedding ceremony.
This box contains a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a love letter from each to the other. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and they have not seen what the other has written. You have created your very own "romantic" time capsule to be opened on your 5th wedding anniversary.
I recommend that you keep the box in a place of honor prominently displayed in your home as a constant reminder of your commitment to each other.
Minister: _____ and _____ should you ever find your marriage enduring insurmountable hardships, you are to as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple in marriage. By reading these love letters you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today.
The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box. And if this is the case, you are to open this box to share and enjoy on your 5th year wedding anniversary!
Minister: _____ and _____, you may now seal the box.
NOTE: The minister drives the first nail, then the bride and groom nail the box shut. You can also have each member of your wedding party step up, drive in one nail to help nail the box shut.
If you use a custom made wine box with two keys, the bride and groom each use a key and lock the box.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Love my Job!
I cannot believe I am saying this aloud, let alone thinking it, but I actually really love my new job! Today we took "live" calls from customers and I felt amazing and confident about the work I was doing, and the information I was passing on to the customers. Their, Commerce Insurance/MAPFRE, main goal is for us to give accurate information to the customers when we are reviewing their account. I was so intimidated and nervous about taking a "live" call because I thought that I wouldn't be able to read the information correctly or be able to pass that information on to the customers. Granted, I did have probably the most EASY calls we took today, but regardless I felt confident in my work. I really think that this company will be my employer until I retire. I want them to be my employer until I retire!
So, over the last 2 weeks we have been taking simulated calls in the training environment. Our trainer would call us and we would complete the call as if it were a "live" call. It was great experience to learn how to navigate through the multiple programs needed to complete our jobs; however, there are some things that cannot be shown in training. There are screens that we cannot use unless it is for a real account, such as payments. So today was a great contrast to our pretend calls.
When we were told that we were taking "live" calls today, I freaked; internally, of course! My body went into its' typical fight or flight mode, by drawing all of the blood in my extremities inside for fight mode. What happens to me is that my hands and fingers go yellow, think Lisa Simpson. Once my hands are yellow, my fingers begin to pucker. The skin sags into itself and creates indents when touched. My skin looks as if I have a sunburn, sort of, meaning I am so yellow that when I touch my skin, my finger prints are left in white! Not quite sure why my body does that, but it does! At least I know myself well enough to call it before it happens and acknowledge why it is happening. So all this fun stuff happened when we were told about the live calls.
What was great is that we were given the option of answering the calls ourselves, or having our trainer, Lisa, take the call while we listen on another handset. The first call I had, she took the call and I navigated through all of the screens to make sure she had all of the information needed to complete the call and help the customer. The second call I took while Lisa listened on the other handset. She was there to help me with anything I needed or to point out things that I may have been missing. I felt great that I did not need her help in the last call at all!
So, I love my job, and I hope I continue to love it! I was so scared and unsure when we began and now I cannot wait to get out "on the line" and really start working!
So, over the last 2 weeks we have been taking simulated calls in the training environment. Our trainer would call us and we would complete the call as if it were a "live" call. It was great experience to learn how to navigate through the multiple programs needed to complete our jobs; however, there are some things that cannot be shown in training. There are screens that we cannot use unless it is for a real account, such as payments. So today was a great contrast to our pretend calls.
When we were told that we were taking "live" calls today, I freaked; internally, of course! My body went into its' typical fight or flight mode, by drawing all of the blood in my extremities inside for fight mode. What happens to me is that my hands and fingers go yellow, think Lisa Simpson. Once my hands are yellow, my fingers begin to pucker. The skin sags into itself and creates indents when touched. My skin looks as if I have a sunburn, sort of, meaning I am so yellow that when I touch my skin, my finger prints are left in white! Not quite sure why my body does that, but it does! At least I know myself well enough to call it before it happens and acknowledge why it is happening. So all this fun stuff happened when we were told about the live calls.
What was great is that we were given the option of answering the calls ourselves, or having our trainer, Lisa, take the call while we listen on another handset. The first call I had, she took the call and I navigated through all of the screens to make sure she had all of the information needed to complete the call and help the customer. The second call I took while Lisa listened on the other handset. She was there to help me with anything I needed or to point out things that I may have been missing. I felt great that I did not need her help in the last call at all!
So, I love my job, and I hope I continue to love it! I was so scared and unsure when we began and now I cannot wait to get out "on the line" and really start working!
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