Pretty Church

I snapped these as we left church this morning.  Granted, our wedding day will look much different in late August, but it was too pretty not to capture!

Mail Time!

As I mentioned before, the mail that shows up these days is pretty fun.  Mostly.  I still get the credit card bills that come from paying from the fun stuff.  But, minor details.

This box contained the earrings for the big day.  Which, if you ask me, this box seems like overkill for one pair of earrings.  But I love J.Crew.  Seriously.  Love. Love. Love.

These guys were actually the second jewelry purchase I've made.  I happened to be wandering J.Crew one day and picked up a pearl and rhinestone bracelet with similar styling to these earrings that I really loved.  Plus it was on sale for $15!  I've yet to try them on, but I think they'll be great.  They're enough that a decision not to wear a necklace can be justified.

Our faces are about to go Postal

The assembly line: addressing, stamping, stacking.

The Sunday Edition: Why the Wedding Industry Loves Us - Bridal Showcases

Yes, I realize it's Monday, and this was supposed to be posted yesterday.  My apologies.  You see, we were here over the weekend.  After three straight days of hard skiing and a four and a half our drive home, I was exhausted.  So I went to bed and hoped my faithful readers (all four of you) would forgive me.

Anywho.  Back to the Sunday Edition.

Bridal Showcases.  Having been a DC bride-to-be for three and a half months now, I've already been invited to several of these things.  I've attended zero, for several reasons. First of all, several cost a hefty sum to attend.  I got invited to one at the Mandarin Oriental a few weeks ago where the entrance fee of $50.  I've also managed to find a lot of my vendors on my own.  I don't really need to be presented with many options for everything we need for the wedding.  However, I think the most convincing reason not to attend one of these events is the image I have of other brides - the crazy, wedding-obsessed bridezillas that I imagine out there.  The thought of being surrounded by those type of people stresses me out.  Hence, I stay away.

There is an upcoming showcase at our reception location that I'll probably check out to see what the place looks like first hand when it's all gussied up.

I love when the mail comes these days

For all the crafts and projects and wedding related items that I'm buying these days, the mail is extra fun.  More often than normal I'm getting packages rather than bills and junk mail.

Today was no exception.

Not only is tomorrow my birthday which means I had a couple cards in the mail (thanks, Erin and Lauren!), but a rather thick envelope from Zazzle arrived as well.

That is my save the date card on my refrigerator!  Eeeee!!!

The Sunday Edition: Why the Wedding Industry Loves Us - Bridal TV

If you've flipped through the "women's networks" (Lifetime, We, TLC, etc.) at one point or another, you've come across the various wedding related programming that exists.  Until Thanksgiving, I'd only heard of these and never actually watched any episodes.  Now, I will admit, I do watch a few every now and then.


Like the wedding magazines, there are different tiers of wedding shows.  I do enjoy watching "Say Yes to the Dress."  It's even earned a spot on my DVR for something to watch when I'm bored and there isn't anything else on.  However, there are a number of other shows that simply make me roll my eyes and change the channel.


BridesTelevision produces 18 shows, some of which I didn't even know existed.  For instance, they produce a show called "My Big Redneck Wedding" that "follows country couples as they plan their shin-digs and pull them off".  Reeeeally?


Then you have the more popular shows like "Bridezillas" and "Platinum Weddings."  The first I can't stand to watch because they are they epitomize the type of bride I strive not to be.  They are bossy and insistent that everything revolves around them for the wedding.  Not only is the wedding not all about the bride, but it's not just about the bride and groom either.  It's about every single person who is there celebrating with you.  


"Platinum Weddings" focuses on weddings where budget isn't a word ever used in the planning, and hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on this singular event.  It perpetuates the idea permeating the bridal industry that you have to spend lots of money on everything for your wedding to be perfect.  


All these shows generate advertising revenue and continue to fuel the fire of bridal spending by planting ideas in future brides heads about the things their weddings "should" entail.  Additionally, they capture viewing audiences who aren't even in the process of planning their wedding.  I know a number of people who watch these shows who aren't engaged.  


Please, America.  I beg of you.  Please stop watching this awful TV.  Put on something entertaining and uplifting.  Like Glee.  :)

What $280 will buy on Craigslist...

20 picture frames of varying size and color for table numbers and other decorations

35 glass vases in varying sizes for centerpieces

I think I scored a fantastic deal for my table/reception decor.  Plus I helped someone clean out their post-wedding stuff.  Currently my back seat is still out of service because those vases are waiting for transport to Will's condo for storage.

DIY project up coming on how I turned those frames from eh to aww.