just keep dreaming...

Grrrr...

Sorry for what is sure to be a slightly whiney and a little emotional rant.

I'm a dreamer...always have been.  And when I dream, I dream big.  I am also completely and unfortunately all to aware that dreams, especially wedding dreams, are expensive.

So right now...despite the fact that I haven't gotten more than 5 hours sleep in the past 2 days, I'm sitting here...still dreaming of all the things I want to see happen on our big day, and trying to figure out what I can sacrifice.

The national average for wedding cost is $25,000+...we've all seen that number somewhere...but the ever so depressing fact for me...is there is no way in H.E. double hockey sticks, that this wedding is gonna come anywhere close to that unless I catch some financial windfall soon.

Right now, we live with my fiances family...but this is only a temporary situation.  Once we've left here, any and all chances to actually SAVE money, go out the window...  We'll have rent of our own and utilities and groceries and all that other fun crap that comes with being adults.

Right now, I have 0 income. I have been temporarily disabled since October after dislocating and breaking my ankle.  1 surgery, 3 casts and an air boot later, I'm finally able to transition into shoes and start walking again, but that's going to take a few weeks at least.  I'm about to start business as a Scentsy consultant...and have been toying with the idea of a wedding planning business as well at the suggestion of a number of friends and family.  Hey, just cause I can't afford to pay for my own wedding, doesn't mean I can't plan the dickens out of someone else's right?

My fiance is also income impaired at the moment.  He spent 3 months in the hospital...from August-November last year...and is still in the recovery stages after both of his lungs collapsed.  I was very nearly a widow before I was ever a bride. Right now, we're waiting on his first full SSD check, but even when those start, we're still so far away from being able to save nearly enough for even the most basic version of the dream.

We have been together for 9 years almost...in July.  And the way too close call we just experienced has made it more than apparent how precious every second is.  It's time for the next step, way past time... We've already waited this long for our dream wedding, and now, that lameness known as cash flow...is totally starting to put a damper on my mood.  Fiance is always trying to keep me grounded but has a tendency to unknowingly hurt me deeper than I let on.  I understand his reasoning is that he doesn't want me to get my hopes up for something that can't happen, only to be crushed in the end when it doesn't come together...and feels that we should be planning for something more on the lines of what we know we can accomplish...but with the situation as it is, I don't even know what that means.

I have been dreaming of my wedding day since I was a little girl...and that's all I want to do right now is dream.  Plan things the way they are in my dream on that off chance I get my money miracle.  But there are moments I just want to throw my hands up in the air, scream, cry, and just stop...

GRRRRR!

...randomness...attire insights...theme ideas...

So I'm just laying here...trying to keep my mind of the pain in my face and digging through the web for more ideas...this post is likely to bounce around...so...buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride :) enjoy.

Extended Theme Ideas:

I've already mentioned Hollywood...but that's a pretty broad theme...there are so many different aspects we could use, Old Hollywood Glamour...speakeasies and flapper dresses, passwords at the door and gangsters galore.  There's the Hollywood Party scene...black tie affair for the Oscars...

So much to choose from, had to narrow it down to something a little more specific and stick with it since there are so many great ideas to run with.

So far, the idea that has been sticking with us most, is roughly this.  We, Troy and I, are the stars of a movie.  Other actors/actresses are our wedding party, and the officiant.  Our guests are all attending the premier and the reception will be the premier after party...  These kinds of setups, the premier and after party have been part of Hollywood across many decades, so that could open us up to kinda spread throughout time if we so chose...and you'll understand why I like that option when you read about the clothes further on...

Attire Insights:

I stumbled across a costume rental place that had these cool theater/hotel/bar bellhop/concessionaire costumes.

Since one of the ideas we are considering for the ceremony venue is an old school movie theater, I thought I could get a couple people dressed up in this fashion, to hand out the ceremony programs and goodies or something along those lines...they used to pass around cigarettes and candy...ideas ideas ideas... :)  Totally 40's...love it.
 
Gonna have to keep digging and see what other "characters" I can find to star in my production...lol

Feel free to comment and leave some ideas or links to sites you know about...I'm trying to be exhaustive in my research so this all comes off just like we want it to. 




It totally fits with the whole Zoot Suit tux setup :)  If you didn't catch the post about the tuxes on facebook, take this photo below...and swap the black shirt for a white formal tux shirt, and you've pretty much got my groom...switch out the red vest and tie for platinum/silver ones and you'll have the groomsmen...

Oh yeah...top hat...can't forget that...Troy will also be donning a classic black top hat and possibly even a cane, but at this point, these accessories are a grooms thing...to further set himself apart from the rest of the group :)

As for my dress...  When I found this dress, which was before Troy even proposed, I was already thinking about the whole Hollywood thing.  When I saw it, the first thing that popped into my mind was "Gone With The Wind".  While it's not an exact replica or anything, the whole picture just made me think of Scarlett.  The dress, the hair piece, the pose...



While I can't exactly say that my dress is from the 40's era like the rest, some sources say that supposedly the zoot suit, owes it's existence to a custom order that was fashioned after someting Rhett Butler wore in "Gone With The Wind", and there for fits with a dress that for me sad "Scarlett" the moment I saw it.

In any case, if you've not already seen them on my facebook page, here are the pictures I have of the dress...

  

It has been ordered and paid for, and according to the website, it is currently in the "tailoring" stage.  I will get to see it and try in on in about 4 weeks...of course, for traditions sake, I'll not be widely publicizing pictures of this dress when I am in it.  Troy has seen these pictures, be he isn't allowed to see me in it until the time is appropriate :)

venues...menus...and other stuff that doesn't rhyme

Okay...so we know Hollywood is the theme we're working on right now...and we know colors are gonna be Black and White with bits of Red and Silver...

VENUES:

With that information in mind, try to visualize along with my on my tour of these potential rooms...

The most plausible idea at this moment is to have both the ceremony and reception the same place...however, at the end, I'll include the one and ONLY photo of a possible ceremony option that fits ever so perfectly with the whole Hollywood Movie thing...

So for your viewing and imagining pleasure...

Picture this room, with out the tables...no throw in some comfy furniture in the appropriate colors, a few full length mirrors, some vanity tables, some bits of decor and fancy, the leading lady, her supporting cast, and the entourage getting ready.  In my dream production, the is the bridal party's ready room...larger than it needs to be, but...when you see how it connects to the rest...I figure you'll understand...

You see the balcony railing outside those open french doors???  And pay close attention to those walls across the way... 

If you head out the doors, and hang a right, you'll find a staircase that leads down to this room...  Add some up-lighting, dim the main lights, add a rented theater like curtain for the back wall to turn it into a theater, and the rest, you don't have to imagine.  The bridesmaids and groomsmen would be standing as they are in this picture...just add one more on each side and take out the string trio, and the MOH and BM along with the officiant, and myself and toy would be front and center.

There are currently 2 reception room ideas being looked at here...I have a tour on Saturday and I'll find out some important information that will come into play in that part of the decision, but I'll show you both rooms for now...

Based on the room itself...my first choice...and just 2 doors down from the ceremony room...  It's already got

the stage, the dance floor, plenty of sq. ft. for my intended guest count, and I love the style of the room.  The DJ we're planning to go with will take care of all the lighting effect, up-lighting, mood lighting, dance lighting...you name it, he's got it covered...so with some gossamer, some flowers and some killer Hollywood style decor, this ballroom could lend it self rather nicely to a star-studded, movie premier after-party.  Is your imagination seeing the same things as mine???

And of course the other option...  In my readings of Hollywood parties and nightlife scenes of the 40's and surrounding decades, I came across a site with this statement... Nothing was more glamorous than visiting the most elegant hotel in town, riding the elevator up to the rooftop ballroom and dancing the night away...  That being said, I present reception room option # 2...

 

and just out side the doors and windows on the left...

And there you have the all in one location...from the dressing, to the drinking and dancing, it could all be happening here. :)

And...if the timing of normal operating hours can be worked around, this is another possibility for ceremony location...the Blue Mouse...what could be better for a Hollywood movie themed wedding than an actual Movie Theater...complete with Box office, Marquee and Concession stand :)

MENUS:

Regardless of the Blue Mouse, if the reception is in fact held in the pictured location, the catering will be done by them...they are after all a catering and convention center...so for the actual dinner portion of the evening...and please keep in mind, that this is my dream day setup...no guarantees...

CHOICES...CHOICES...CHOICES...what sounds good???

Each of the following served meals include choice of a Classic Caesar Salad with grated Parmesan Cheese,  or Spinach Salad, Chef Select Vegetable du jour, rolls and butter, coffee & Iced Tea. 

    **side note...I may talk to them about a choice of  Soup or Salad instead of 2 Salad options...it's gonna be October and the PNW can get a bit chilly...soup might appeal to some...dunno...**

Dinner Selections - Each guest will RSVP for their choice...

Stuffed Chicken Mascarpone-  Chicken Breast stuffed with Mascarpone Cheese, Sun-dried Tomatoes & Pesto, topped with a Roasted Red-Pepper sauce.  Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

NW Cedar Plank Salmon- Pacific Northwest Salmon baked on a real cedar plank for a special NW flavor.  Finished with Sun-dried Tomatoes and a special White Truffle Oil.  Served with Wild Mushroom Risotto.

10-Ounce Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding- USDA prime cut rubbed with garlic and seasonings.  Slow roasted and accompanied with creamy horseradish and  au jus on the side,  Yorkshire Pudding and served with a Baked Potato topped with Bacon, Chives & Butter.

 Are you hungry yet???  

Lemme know what you think!!!  Comments welcome and appreciated :)

And So It Begins...

So I figured I would start off small...

The first tidbit of information up for digestion is the Theme and Color Scheme.  For the most part, these are solid intentions...we have been rolling with these two ideas since the start, and I'm pretty sure we have no plans whatsoever to deviate.  The details of the theme are still yet to be locked in, but the general direction remains the same.

The Colors:  We'll be working mostly in Black and White, with accents of Red and Silver :)

The Theme:  The general theme in one word...HOLLYWOOD!  To narrow that down a little, right now, the current idea we are working with is a Hollywood Movie Premier.   The ceremony will serve as the Main Attraction...and the reception, a star-studded after party.  Red Carpets, Spot Lights and the ever present Paparazzi are all included on the list of embellishments...

lights!!! camera!!! action!!!