#656: pretties.

i haven't been stalking my favorite blogs lately. maybe i don't really feel like i need to anymore. or maybe i've just been too busy. idk.

but i'm going to try harder to keep on top of all of the sites i used to visit everyday twice-a-day. because inspiration is inspiration, just the same. for you, me, married, not-yet-married.

and i hope to keep that part of this blog alive, at least for as long as this blog is alive.

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here's what inspired me today during my 5-minute roam around the nets.


rachel's recap of her stay in hawaii (which is my absolute favorite place on this planet. so far.)


numbered tin can DIY instructions via 100 layer cake.


via daisy chain.


via le love.

#655: tipping point. ish.

we were shooting for a 100-person guestlist and that's what we budgeted for.

but somehow, we ended up hosting 130 people.

well. i shouldn't say "somehow". you know. since we're the ones who sent out the invitations.

we invited 140-150 of our closest friends and family, from all over the place, like from all over the country and all over the world. we both hoped everyone would come, but we weren't oblivious to things like the economy and the unemployment rate and companies whittling away employee benefits, cutting things like vacation days and 401k matching, and even going so far as to issue pay decreases...et cetera.

nope. not at all oblivious to things like that.

so we didn't expect a lot of people, especially those who would have to travel long distances, to be able to make it. that's just the reality these days, unfortunately, and we expected as such.

but...and to our delight...that's not what happened. most of our friends and family made the trip. they took the time. they switched things around to make it happen.

and i'd have to say that it was an incredible blessing.

one of the most fabulous things about our wedding for me was having the most important people in my world and his world, in one place, mixing, mingling, playing. together.

there will probably never be a time when our lives will collide again in that way. ever.

and so we paid about 30% more than we anticipated for the reception because almost everyone rsvp'd yes.

is this the biggest reason we went over? yes.

regret factor: Z-E-R-O.

#654: do you believe in soulmates.

my 14 year old cousin asked me that over the weekend.

i told her that i didn't believe in soulmates...and gave her some long winded answer about how every relationship you're in becomes a part of you and develops who you are and prepares you for the relationship that you end up wanting to be in forever.

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"i still believe in soulmates."

#653: and one last thing.

heads up. i'll be deleting comments that are being NASTY for the sake of being nasty. because i don't care to deal with it right now. thanks.

unless your comment is also funny. then maybe i won't delete it.

#652: more boring words.

first thing we did...we cut out a lot of things that didn't matter to us. it wasn't easy at first because peoples' reactions to things just scared me (what? no flower girl dresses? what? no favors? what? no hair and makeup artist? what? a lunch wedding? what?).

but through the great counsel of the blog community, i got over it and became a cutting machine. not only did it save us money, but when we decided to do or not do something...it was because it did or did not matter to us.

even better.

here's a short list of things that got axed: a hotel venue. hair and makeup artist.
bathroom goodies. out-of-town bags. real flower centerpieces. favors. a big guest list. an evening reception. a live band. a wedding planner. a wedding cake.

we were unconventional, to say the least.

and along those lines, and perhaps most important of all, i started this blog. before i was even engaged. i mean, who does that? (me.)

and...our bottom line was hugely affected by this blog...and the generosity of vendors who found me through TTO. if it hasn't been obvious, let me make it obvious. by saying it again. and giving it its own line. and bolding it.

our bottom line was hugely affected by this blog...and the generosity of vendors who found me through TTO.

we also happened to run into plain dumb luck. things that worked incredibly in our favor, had absolutely nothing to do with this blog, but just really was something like stars aligning. or something.

so. now that i've said all those things (i guess i had a lot to say), i'll be jumping into the details. i don't really have any advice (except that you should start a blog).

but i've got stories. stories like spending $50 on 7 peonies bouquets and 4 orchid bouts. (it's the truth.) and i'll be doling them out in bits, through this blog and through opb (other people's blogs).

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who you are and what's important to you, your approach and reaction to things, how much time you have, where and when and how and why, who you know and what you do...every single variable that affects your bottom line, what you even consider to be part of your bottom line...

...will be different from mine.

there's no one obvious answer. i don't have a formula. it's a journey. and your journey will not be like mine.

but. if what you're curious about is whether i think a $10,000 wedding in LA is possible...after doing this for 2 years and knowing what i know...

my answer is a yes. but it's a yes with many resounding disclaimers.

in one of my posts, i talked about something i learned kind of late in the game. which is -- you can't have a $50,000 wedding with $10,000. you just can't.

if someone throws a $10,000 wedding for 50 people, who has the right to say "but that's not REALLY a $10,000 wedding because i need to have a $10,000 wedding for 200 people".

??

that said, i hope some of the things i share from this point on help you along your way. it's the best i can do.

#651: the list.

people include/don't include different things in their bottom line.

here's what we decided to include in our final wedding tally:

•130 guests •DJ •Officiant •Photographer •Invitations + stampage •Wedding dress + alterations •Headpiece •Bridesmaids dresses •Bridesmaids Gifts •Hair and makeup •Groomsmen ties •Groomsmen gifts •Centerpieces •Boutonnieres (7 total) •Michaels stuff – paper, sand, jars, fake flowers, headbands, baskets, pompoms, glue dots, guestbook, flower tape, base for place cards, sticks •Polaroid film for the guestbook •Real flowers (7 bouquets, 4 corsages)•Programs •Place cards •Rehearsal lunch

#650: words are boring.

this blog is in serious need of some pictures. srsly.

ok. so i've done some mulling and i've made a decision. because that's what i do. make decisions. and if you're down with what i've decided, that's great. if you're not, i can't help you. but hopefully you're down. but if you're not, like i said, i can't help you.

but hopefully you are.

so. the question from the very beginning was...could we throw a $10,000 wedding.

and...

...

...we didn't.

but.

we came pretty close. yes, we went over, but not by much.

turns out, all of the research and planning, experimenting and testing...oh, and blogging...really paid off in the end. literally.

we're so...can't even find the right word...satisfied(??) with our final tally.

and do want to know the best feeling ever?

it's taking a look at the bottom line, and thinking...sh*t. we did it right. we rock.

and isn't that really the point.

that's all i'm going to say about that.

*EDIT: and by saying "that's all i'm going to say about that", i mean i will not be posting a GRAND TOTAL. and that i'm moving on from this topic.