Have a slice!
 

Instructions can be found here.  I did scale it down a bit, though.  I’m using 2-1/2″ x 3″ inkjet business cards from Staples for the placecards themselves.  I made the overall width 4-1/2″, scored 1/2″ in from each end for the front and end, and scored 1″ between each of the folds that hold the placecards themselves.  Each holder started as a 4-1/2″ x 17″ flat pieces of paper.  After scoring folding, and tying ribbon through, they end up being 4-1/2″ x around 9-10″ long and allow for 8 placecards per holder.  I cut the ribbon in 14″ long pieces as you need some extra to knot it a couple of times so it doesn’t slip through the holes.

I haven’t printed the placecards themselves yet as we’re still waiting to finalize which guest is at which table, but here’s a screenshot of what we’ve decided.  Red for chicken, aqua for vegetarian.

Materials:
Strips of 4-1/2″ wide x 17″ long cardstock cut from bright white 11″x17″ card stock.
1/4″ single-faced satin ribbon from Fabric Barn cut into 14″ long pieces.
1/4″ hole punch.
X-acto knife & metal ruler to score card stock.

One more [pseudo] DIY project down, about 271 more to go!

Luckily, a friend of mine had an extra Kolo Newport album (11×14 size)…in red!  She sold it to me for a very reasonable price.  I slipped one of our engagement photos in.  Cover, check.

I then bought the off-white colored refill pages and gummed photo corners.  Using a mini T-square, a polaroid photo we had lying around, and a gridded self-healing mat, I painstakingly pasted in each photo corner.

Here’s a closeup:

Now that almost all of our RSVP’s are in (yes, still waiting on a few stragglers), we are expecting about 150 guests.  Many of those guests are part of a couple or family, so we figure they’ll take couple or group photos.  I bought 20 pages, which gives me 40 sides for photos and guests’ signatures.  Each side has sqace for two photos and accompanying signatures/messages, so we’ve got room for 80 photos.  From very informal research (asking a few friends who have done this), it seems that the final number of exposures used ranges from about 30-50% of the total guest count.  Many guests take photos with their S.O., their kids, their group of friends, etc.  Some forget or don’t bother taking the photo and signing.

The best deal I’ve found for non-expired Polaroid film is Costco.  Ebay’s got some deals, but it seems a lot of the cheaper stuff is expired or close to expiring with no guarantees your exposures will come out.  Costco’s film is almost $45 for 5 packs of 10 exposures each (50 exposures) in store.  Lucky for me, a friend has two Polaroid cameras she is willing to lend me for free.  I’ve wrangled up two friends to be my guestbook nazis (man the cameras and guestbook table).  All I need is a handful of black or brown acid-free pens, and our guestbook is all ready!

Momzilla* is insisting that the city’s signage is not clear enough [it's pretty clear, easy to spot, and it's off of a major road] and that guests will get lost trying to park.  The parking lot is about a one hundred foot walk to the entrance gate of the estate.  She wanted me to ask my venue to provide parking attendants to direct people to the parking lot and then to the walkway that leads to the estate.  Um, no.  The venue does not include that, nor does it have the manpower to provide an extra two people or so.  And I am not sticking any of our guests with that chore. 

So as a compromise, I had a carpenter friend saw up a few 1/4″ thick pieces of masonite and 3/4″ x 1-1/2″ stakes.  In order to keep the venue’s lawns intact, I will stick them in those silver pails (99 cents each on clearance at Ikea!) and use dirt and/or some of the river rock to weigh it down and keep the sign upright.

[Please excuse all the boxes of wedding junk in the background.]

I originally told my friend I’d be painting these white, so he made he cut and measurement marks all over the wood.  However, I’m running out of time and energy to paint them.  I may just forget it at this point.  I will be printing the text, cutting it out, and using rubber cement to stick them to the signs.  Post wedding, I will peel the lettering off, use my handy dandy rubber cement pickup to get any residue off, and then they will be ready for re-use/reselling.  Now I just need to dig up a fat, coarse eraser to get those pencil marks off.

*This Momzilla thing is new to me.  She was totally [and happily] uninvolved for the past 12 months, but now that we’re a little less than a month out, she is suddenly demanding all sorts of weird things…

I blogged about a random purchase a few months ago.  Here’s the explanation, copy & pasted from that entry, for the lazy.

Here is the finished product:

I was going to try to find something to put in the 2nd locket, but lazy bride has decided to forget it and just honor those that truly had a big role in our lives.  I took off the earring hooks and put them aside, as I can maybe use them later.  I edited photos in Photoshop, printed them on photo paper, and cut them in tiny circles.  I’ll just have my florist somehow pin or tie them onto my bouquet.

Lamest table mockups.  Ever.
57″ rounded corner-ed square table instead of 60″ round.
Random red chair to stand in for my red napkins and flowers.
Coffee can to stand in for centerpiece.  It’s about the right diameter, but totally not the right height or shape.
Absence of votive holders in 2 heights that will also surround the coffee can centerpiece.
Vinyl wallcovering remnants used for the mockups.

I thought I liked the runner better (Yeah, it’s too short.  Remember, I was using a remnant.) . . .

. . .but then, one day, I woke up and desired something a little less done.  Oh wait, Martha already did it.

Finally, our friend, Mr. Coffee Can.  He is playing the role of “scaled figure” today.

We’re doing the square in three different patterns, none of which the ghetto pieces above represent.  And yes, I’ve checked to make sure we can fit 8 placesettings around without too many or any plates/flatware/glassware sitting on the edge of our glorified placemats/truncated runners.  Oh, and the square is a 27″ square.  24″ squares worked slightly better, but then I will waste some of my 54″ wide goods.  The runner above was about 13.5″ wide and should have been 84-96″ long.

Potato
and
Bear

request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage

on Sunnyday, the unshaded day of August

two thousand and seven

at sweat o’clock

An All Outdoor Venue
Hothothot, California

We [potato, bear, and the wedding party], will be under the cool shade of some enormously tall bamboo.  Unforutnately, about four-fifths of our guests will bear the full brunt of Southern California, August sun beating down on their [mostly dark-haired] heads.

To give their sweat glands somewhat of a break, we’re providing parasols.  “A tent!” you say?  Like, ew, the venue totally doesn’t allow that [no offense to tent wedding brides.  I've seen amaaaaazing looking ones.  But we can't afford that, now].  We will also be doing the now-famous water/lemonade/iced tea/other iced but non-alcholic liquid refreshment station for pre-ceremony, to keep everyone hydrated.

These are the best looking beverage dispensers [in my opinion] that I’ve found so far.  Too bad the price tag is not as tasty.

You can find these overpriced babies in these two places:
http://wildflowerorganics.com/product.php?productid=391&cat=132&page=1
http://scarlettalley.com/store/item/1w4f8/Drinkware/ROOST_Marseilles_Beverage_Dispenser.html

If you have a resale license, you can buy direct from Roost for MUCH less that advertised above, but they do have minimums.

My caterer is going to leave out nice, basic pitchers included in the per person price for the drinks.  You can’t beat “free” (er, already included.  It feels free, though!).  Plus they are easier to refill.  Sorry, guests, that you’ll all be baked potatoes, but I won’t.  I promise cocktail hour is in a much cooler [mostly shaded] area, with cool refreshments.

The bear and I have been working on our song list.  Well, I started it (with the help of past lists on Weddingbee and a few friends’ lists), and the bear put his all into it, rocking out and groovin’ with his headphones on into the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning while I snoozed away.  Hey, I wake up about 3 hours earlier than he does.

You’ll see a sharp contrast between the ceremony music [traditional], cocktail hour [loungey], and the reception music [almost all hip hop with a little bit of gangsta rap and pop thrown in].  We did want to create a distinction between each part of the event, and moving people physically plus change in music is our method, rather than spending a ton on differing decor between places. 

Our ceremony is pretty traditional, and we want it to be both worshipful and respectful toward the seriousness of the commitment we are making.  Plus this square and nerd had only listened to classical and liturgical music until, oh, about age 11.  Yes, I am finally publicly admitting it.  From my preteen years until the present, I’ve been pretty mainstream with a little underground hip hop and indie alternative thrown in.  As we age, we’re both turning to more mellow stuff, especially me.  Going to design school with [albeit nerdy at my school] hipsters, working in a creative industry, and being wined/dined by vendors on the Westside has had its influence on me.  I now turn to KCRW‘s
eclectic mix of electronica, jazz, indie artists, underground hip hop,
and world music.  This will influence the cocktail hour, although the
bear did veto the more obscure stuff on my list.  Most of it is obscure to him.  Big Boo, with capital
B’s.  On the other hand, the bear’s been quite the [pop and some underground] music aficionado since, oh, about pre-birth.  He’s on top of the 80s, 90s, and today!  Since the reception is a celebration and party, we’re gonna party like it’s 1999!

The one thing we can agree upon is 90s hip hop.  Luckily for us, that’s what will get most of our guests to hit the dance floor, too.  Thanks to his club-promoting, “I’m with the DJ”ing past (his bestest friends all had turntables and actually used them at parties and clubs), the bear did put together a pretty good club, er party.  It was all I could do to keep him from loading some DJing program onto his PC to mix a set (or two, or three, or the whole playlist) for me last night.  Instead, we just skipped around on both of our Winamps and grooved in our desk chairs.  Now hopefully our DJ has clean versions of all these songs, preferably on vinyl.  Yes, he still spins vinyl, although he does have CD turntables and an iBook, too.  This alone almost won the bear over.

Now that I’m done babbling, I present our list.  Warning:  Long!  When your scrolling finger gets a cramp, don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Mind you, this is our much edited and cut down list. 

Ceremony
Prelude, Seating of Family, Lighting of Unity Candle: 
J.S. Bach – Prelude No. 1 in C Major/The Well-Tempered Clavier
J.S. Bach – Air on the G String

Processional – Bridesmaids, Officiants:
J.S. Bach – Cantata No. 147/Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Processional – Bride:
Still deciding between the two most common.
Wagner – Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin)
Pachelbel – Canon in D

Hymn:
Beethoven – Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Recessional:
Again, deciding between a few common ones.
Mendelssohn – Wedding March (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
J.S. Bach – Keyboard Concerto No. 4: Allegro, I Allegro
I really wanted Widor’s Organ Symphony No. 5, Toccata, but that was vetoed as the bear thinks it sounds like just anyone banging on an organ.

Cocktail Hour, During Dinner
311 - Amber
311 – Love Song
The Bangles – Eternal Flame

Bebel Gilberto
Buena Vista Social Club
Coldplay
Common
Corinne Bailey Rae
Counting Crows
De La Soul
Death Cab for Cutie
Diggable Planets
Enrique Iglesias
Erykah Badu
Frank Sinatra
Foo Fighters – Everlong (acoustic)
Goo Goo Dolls
Jack Johnson
Jason Mraz
Jill Scott
Jars of Clay
Joao Gilberto
John Mayer
Keane
L’Hotel Costes/Stephane Pompougnac
Les Nubians
Louis Armstrong
Lucy Pearl
Michelle Branch
Moby
Mono
Musiq Soulchild
Nat King Cole
Natalie Cole
Norah Jones
Paperboy – Ditty
Paul Oakenfold
Pink Martini
PM Dawn
The Postal Service
Richard Marx
The Roots
Sade
Snow Patrol
Stevie Wonder
Suzanne Vega - Tom’s Diner
Switchfoot
Talib Kweli
Telepopmusik
The Roots
Thievery Corporation

Weezer - 
Island in the Sun

Reception
During Dinner:
See Cocktail Hour list.

Bridal Party Entrance:
Guns N Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
[still under debate] 

Bride + Groom:
I have given the bear the pick on this one.  We’re currently deciding between two similar songs.
Rocky Theme – Soundtrack
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

Cake Cutting:
Two very different songs we have yet to decide upon, again.
Peter Cetera  - Glory
of Love
The Wonders – That Thing You Do

First Dance:
Luther Vandross – Here
and Now
Invite bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride’s mom + brother, groom’s
parents to join after firs 2 mins. (after first chorus).
Cut song at 3:30. [It's a long, 5 minutes and change.]

Bouquet Toss:
Cyndi Lauper  - Girls
Just Want to Have Fun
No Doubt – Just a Girl

Garter Toss:
Queen – Another One Bites the Dust

No-Money Money
Dance:
[I think some call it a Wish Dance.  We just want a chance to dance/talk to guests one on one, without the whole money thing as it's not commonly done in my circle but it is commonly done in his.  Please suggest names better than "Wish Dance!"]
98 Degrees – I Do
Berlin
- Take My Breath Away
Boyz II Men – On Bended Knee
Boyz II Men – Hey Lover
Debbie Gibson – Lost In Your Eyes
DJ Sammy – Heaven (Candlelight remix)
Edwin McCain – I Could Not Ask for More
Keith Sweat -  I’ll
Give All My Love
Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey – Endless Love
Mandy Moore
- I Wanna Be With You
Monica – Angel of Mine
Richard Marx – Now and Forever
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
UNV – So In Love With You

Last Dance:
‘N SYNC – This I Promise You [Yes, our cheeseball sides coming out.  Boy bands were in their heyday when we first started dating.]

Open Dancing – Slow:
See No-Money Money Dance list.

Open Dancing – Fast/Hip-Hop:
112 – Only You (remix)
50 Cent - 
In Da Club
A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario
Another Bad Creation – Iesha
Another Bad Creation – Playground
Bel Biv Devoe – Poison
Beyonce – Crazy in Love
Boyz II Men – Motownphilly
Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See
Chingy – Right Thurr
De La Soul – A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday
De La Soul – Buddy
Dilated Peoples – This Way
Gangstarr – Full Clip
Guerilla Black – You’re the One
Ice Cube – Friday
Jagged Edge – Where the Party At?
Jay-Z, featuring Linkin Park – 99 Problems
Jermaine Dupri – Money Ain’t a Thang
Jurassic 5 – The Influence
Justin Timberlake – Sexyback
Juvenile – Back that Thang Up (obviously, clean version)
Kanye West
Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz – Get Low
LL Cool J – Headsprung
Ludacris – Southern Hospitality
Mack 10 – Nothin’ but the Cavi Hit
Mary J. Blige – Everything (remix)
Nas – If I Ruled the World
Nelly – E.I.
Nelly – Hot in Here
Next – Wifey
Notorious B.I.G. – Goin’ Back to Cali
Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize
Outkast – ATLiens
Outkast – Hey Ya
Outkast – Rosa Parks
Outkast – The Way You Move
Paperboy – Ditty
Raphael Saadiq and QTip – Get Involved
R. Kelly – Home Alone
Snoop Dogg – Ain’t No Fun
Snoop Dogg – Beautiful
SWV – Anything
SWV – Right Here
Talib Kweli – Get By
Tha Dogg Pound – Let’s Play House
Tha Dogg Pound – Respect
The Roots – Seed 2.0
Timbaland, featuring Magoo – Luv 2 Luv U
TLC – No Scrubs
Tupac – California Love
Tupac – 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
Twinz – Round and Round
Usher -  Yeah
Usher, featuring Alicia Keys – My Boo
Warren G – Regulate
Will Smith – Summertime
Ying Yang Twins – Salt Shaker
Young MC – Bust a Move

Open Dancing – Fast/Dance:
Afrikaa Bambaataa – Planet Rock
Freestyle [mixes, not artist] – Don’t Stop the Rock, etc.
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
Planet Patrol – Play at Your Own Risk
Stevie B – Spring Love, etc.

Open Dancing – Fast/Other:
Britney Spears – Toxic
Christina Aguilera – Ain’t No Other Man
Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
Kelly Clarkson
Matisyahu – King Without a Crown
Montell Jordan – This is How We Do It

Do Not Play:
Chicken Dance
Cotton Eye Joe
Electric Slide
Macarena
Reggaeton
Rhianna – Umbrella
YMCA (anything by Village People)

Apparently, you’re not supposed to call guests who have missed your deadline.  You are supposed to have a parent, other family member, or friend call on your behalf.  For us, that was about half of our guest list.  Yes, half.  220 invited, about 115 replies as of the RSVP date.  Of course I found this out AFTER I had already called, emailed, IM’ed, and Friendster/MySpace messaged [hey, it was an unholy hour on the east coast when I was making my calls] the 50 or so non-replies on my list.  Etiquette schmetiquette. 

Five days after the RSVP deadline, and we still need about 35 responses back.  I’m trying to look on the bright side.  While time consuming, it’s been great to actually talk to people I haven’t talked in awhile on the phone, hear old voices [boo and yay to the 'net which makes this phone hater use it even less], and catch up.  What percentage of your RSVP’s did you actually have back on or by your RSVP deadline?

We’ve had a rather dry year.  In October (the last time I was at the venue before last week), the bamboo at our venue was a lush, verdant green.  Now it is looking rather…dry [said in Ben Stein's voice].

Honestly, it’s so tall that most won’t notice the dead scragglies at the top.  Plus, people in other parts of the state have much more to worry about due to this dryness.

cookies only [no ice cream ]       self-sealing bags

dotty, food-safe waxed tissue       home printed labels

Please ignore the misaligned label.  Thanks to my 10 year old printer’s bad feed tray, I now have a full sheet of junk labels to use for mockups…whee!

The Martha Stewart waxed paper is too expensive but has a nice weight and waxiness to it.  The Container Store tissue is a nice price ($4.99 for a 25′ roll that is 20″ wide and yields 60 favor wraps) but very flimsy and definitely not sturdy enough on its own.  Hence the inner, self-sealing PaperMart bags.  And yes, there are art paper, wrapping paper, cheaper paper options out there, but this bride is done with intensive research and making decisions on the fly instead.

The majority of the cookies will be sheathed in The Container Store tissue and sealed with one of three different stickers.  Yummy in my tummy.  Well, my guests tummy. Although I’m sure just a few will be consumed during the wrapping two nights before.

Oh yeah, the process.  Unfortunately, no cookies for me tonight.  So I drew one of the correct diameter (3.25″ to 3.5″).  I did not enclose them in their self-sealing plastic sleeves as they are still en route.

Instructions courtesy of the [eeeevil] empire.  Although I’m sure most can figure it out without.  And yes, considering I have to do these two nights before so that I don’t send my guests home with stale cookies, my priorities are a bit jumbled.  Time to get back to “more important” things…*sigh*.