The Purpose

As Z. and I have busted budgets and worksheets and scribbled ideas down on notebook paper, I stop to think about what this wedding truly means to me.

We have mentioned the idea of a destination wedding, foregoing all the planning and the stresses of prepping for such an important event, a day that will be mine for forever. And I have come to realize that the food and the venue and the decorations are not what matters when it comes to planning a wedding — it’s about having the people that you love around you, celebrating the joining of two lives. And maybe throwing back a few in the process.

For me, the destination wedding kind of defeats that purpose. Yes, the people that are closest to us would still be there, we’d still be celebrating such a wonderful relationship, but it may be limiting on some guests that would be invited. And that is not something that I want to be concerned with. We have kept our guest list pretty light — family and the closest of friends — but I do think that leaving the state or country would knock our guest list considerably.

We’ve ex’d out the idea of favors; we’d rather donate that money to a great cause rather than buy all of you something that would probably be eaten or tossed after sitting on a shelf and collecting dust at home … and that’s assuming it makes it out of your car the night of the wedding. I’ve been contacting some of the caterers in regards to customizing a menu and making it more “home-y”, more comfort foods that we had when we were growing up to help emphasize our laid-back, enjoyable atmosphere (no Mom, I won’t ask if they will make Pokemon Macaroni & Cheese). We want to zero in on creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable, at home, and with the people that they love — rather than a stereotypical wedding with flower centerpieces and a plated dinner where butlers are placing napkins on your lap because you haven’t taken it out from under your silverware in a timely fashion.

So, maybe I should relax a little more and know that other things are a little more important: a venue that matches your ambiance, a photographer that will promise and deliver the utmost perfect memories captured on a day that can’t be matched or re-lived, and a memory that lays in the minds of every guest that won’t be forgotten as a wedding that highlighted the true meaning of the gathering, rather than worrying about minor details that do not matter in the end.

I still like black chairs better than white.

Day 7 — A Sigh of Relief, but More Options??

Little do you know, this last week has been incredibly stressful … up until yesterday. I’d like to thank everyone that looked at my blog and voted for venues because today was the first day that I woke up and felt as though I didn’t have a million things to do. This blog is what is going to keep me sane until the minutes before I walk down an aisle, somewhere … :]

I have a great amount of support pouring in, from friends and family alike, but I still felt disconnected as a bride planning an Arizona-based shindig from the beautiful state of CA. This blog has been my connection to all of the people that I hold dear to my heart: here in California, one in Colorado, and countless from my home, sweet home Arizona. I love being able to pour my heart and passion for perfection onto this website and have a single, simple way of communicating with the people that want to know every little detail. So I hope you all stay interested for the next 10 months.

I have taken the time to attempt an inspiration board — who knows if I will ever do this again. Placement of specific pictures, layering, palettes, blah; I’m in need of a nap, now. This board almost perfectly depicts what my original vision is/was. Please be kind, I’m not nearly as talented as M., who’s blog I was recently featured in @ http://jetsetmeg.blogspot.com (ahhhh-mazing, might I add).

My original scheme/feel/goal, the best that I can create.

So, not to confuse any of you … but (perhaps, unfortunately) I have now come across two additional colors that I am forcing myself not to adopt until I talk to you all (I haven’t even warned my fiance, Z., about this yet). I do not know if I would simply add one to the previously stated color scheme, or totally throw my favorite color out and opt for something that is new and fresh. I’ll fill you in:

1: Peach. It’s feminine and subtle, but not pink. Pink is not the color for me, nor one of Z.’s groomsmen who has fair, freckly skin and a head of Red. I think that the peach would pop with the mustard and grey and creams, presenting a color palette that is season-appropriate (looking for venues that are available any weekend in March or the first couple of April, so a spring-time wedding).

Peach and grey board ... imagine the yellow with this. Maybe I'll make one ... blah.

2: Mint or Seafoam. This is normally a color that wouldn’t top my list, but these inspiration boards are just that: inspirational. I think that if not careful, the light green may get lost in an outdoor setting, so I am leaning more towards this if my love lies with MonOrchid next weekend. Just imagine the black and stark white walls and architecture with a grey and seafoam or mint theme — I truly think the mint would create amazing contrast.

Seafoam = dreamy.

Please please please leave your comments!!

Oh yeah … yay for being engaged for a week!! (baaahh … hahahahaha)