Big Changes!

I am getting married on Oct. 3rd 2009 now! Yay! We are going to have the ceremony at the church and I think we may just have a dessert and light snacks there too. I haven't had time to call anyone because of work and school (I graduate in December, see my professional blog). I am looking at a couple of Antebellum homes in historic downtown Huntsville as possible reception sites. I may just have it at the church. For some reason the closer the date gets, the more depressed I get! 

Rob and I had to spend the majority of the summer apart. He was in Tuscaloosa and I was in Huntsville. We did this so he could graduate in May 2009, since I am graduating in December. He is working three on campus jobs right now and I am working two. (again, check out my professional blog) I have decided to launch a photoblog as well. 

 I have to chose between two dresses, both Maggie Sotteros. Since Rob never reads here I feel comfortable saying that they are Angela and Felicity. I love both of them! Angela is way more expensive than Felicity, like $400! I love both of them, felicity is more of a princess traditional gown, while angela is also traditional with it's lace. I guess Felicity is a modern traditional. I need opinions, I have a bridesmaid in Huntsville that has seen angela and a different Maid of honor in Tuscaloosa who has seen Felicity! I hope to get someone to look at both before I order!

Top 5 Wedding dates in order!!

5. Janurary 2, 2010
4. October 10, 2009
3. November 28, 2009
2. November 21, 2009
1. December 5, 2009

It's approximately three weeks until I visit Annabella and see what dates are available! Keep your fingers crossed!!

Candy Buffet!

Photo Creds: Google images

Rob and I love candy, so it's only obvious to add this flair to the wedding! I have been reading a post on the Disney World budget board on how to efficently and cheaply do this. I found a web site called groovycandies.com listed on there for their fresh candy and reasonable rates. I think I am going to do mostly blue candy to include: rock candy, blueberry now and laters, blueberry laffy taffy, blueberry sour punch straws, in addition, I am going to have multi colored swirly pops shaped like hearts, dum dums, and pixie sticks as well as mine and Rob's favorite... sour patch kids!! of course the blue stuff will most likely have to be ordered off line, I plan on getting the rest at Sam's. For the buffet I intend on using a 6 or 8ft rectangular table with a blue table cloth and two of our chocolate runners (Rob's mother is making our runners, while his aunt or my cousin will be embodering them with our new "C") with the "C" facing outward on each, they will drape widith wise rather than length wise on this special table. I plan on collecting a variety of glass containers from the good will stores to the dollar stores, to places like old time pottery. Rob's parents antique like crazy and want to be throughly involved in planning! I also plan on using the dum dums to make christmas like tress or even topiaries, (foam in blue or brown plant pot, foam spray painted blue with candy covering it, brown stick wrapped in ribbon in the center of pot, foam ball on top, ball with lollipop sticks in it, volia topairey)

I love the idea of the wooden "love" this is so easy a caveman could do it, I actually did my name like this not too long ago. Just buy the letters, maybe a dollar a piece? and paint them with arylic paints. I love those jars and I hope I will find some like it. Hope to make a sign that reads:

"How Sweet it is to be loved by you!

Thanks for sharing our special day,

and now that you are on your way,

take some treats to remember this day!

With love, Mir & Rob"

Corny but I'll tweak it!

New Design before I leave T-town!

Late night design work!!

Lake Guntersville State Park

If we rent this venue, we will have both the wedding and reception high on the mountain overlooking Lake Guntersville. Robert and I both have a passion for the outdoors, our first date was a hike!

Rental fees are waved if a sent down meal is served. If not the room rents for $225 a day!! The food prices are VERY reasonable as well: A dinner buffet with two entree choices is $15.95 per person, the southern BBQ feast, my personal fav, includes: Southern Pulled BBQ Smoked Pork, Chicken Fingers with BBQ dipping sauce, baked beans, Italian green beans, red-skin mashed potatoes, coleslaw, tossed salad, and sweet Southern pecan pie
$13.95 per person. The plated meals are $8.99 for choose bbq pork or chicken fingers, and $9.99 to get a little of both. I think it's very, very reasonable. I don't think my guests need BOTH bbq pork and fingers, but I know my mom will make me do both on one plate, I think people can choose and be happy!! The meals come with baked beans, green beans, cole slaw or salad and a slice of sweet,sweet pecan pie. Of course, I will have to make sure that they will allow me to bring in my cake.

Things I like about this venue:

-The view!

- the price

- the food selection (EVERYONE knows that I am a CRAZY CRAZY bbq FANATIC!!)

Things I am not as sure about:

-the distance

-the decoration

- having the wedding on site (it's over an hour drive there from our church)

Monte Sano

I am exploring venues, so here we go, first up is Monte Sano State Park.

To rent a room at Monte Sano Lodge on Saturday, Sunday or Holidays, you must rent the entire lodge. This retails for $1500 for the first 8 hours, additional hours are $225. You must bring your own cater and supplies. They do have tables and chairs. As long as you don't change the the layout of the Fearn Hall, there is no set-up fee. I would leave Fearn Hall as an entrance for guests to lounge and visit. I would only use this as a reception venue, which would put us back at square one at Locust Grove. That would give us a 100 person maxium at the church. I hate to invite people to the reception only, so we'll see. This is $1000 cheaper than Annabella. It's $75 to rent the church for the wedding. I would rather not have the guests travel between the wedding and the reception. One thing I like about Monte Sano is that it is pretty centrally located and would only be about a 20 min drive from the church.