I am in need of a reception dress. If it were only for comfort reasons, considering that it will be hot and humid at my wedding, I would still be hesitant to change out of my wedding dress. I absolutely love my dress, and as is obvious, I will only be wearing it for a short period of time. While I plan to extend that amount of time as long as possible, I will need to change into a reception dress at some point in the evening.
I say need because of a matter dear to my heart. Years ago my mother purchased two strings of pearls, one for my sister and I when we got engaged. The day she took me dress shopping, she gave me my pearls and oh how beautiful they are. I love them. My sister married her husband a couple of years ago and wore her pearls most of the days during the year or so she was engaged. I loved my pearls so much I got a little jealous that my sister could wear hers nearly every day and my job makes that somewhat not possible. Anyways, I wore them trying on dresses knowing they would be worn with the dress.
A couple months later, my uncle called for my mailing address. He asked if I would be wearing a necklace with my dress and if Kenny had ever bought pearls for me. I told him I would be wearing a necklace, and no, Kenny has not bought pearls. He informed me that he would like to give me the pearls that he gave my recently deceased aunt on their wedding day. He just knew they would look beautiful and that Aunt Linda would be so happy for me to have them.
Two very special, and very different looking, strings of pearls. The ones from my Freesia Mom are smooth and classic, the ones from Freesia Uncle are three strings of freshwater (thus varied in shape) pearls. Both absolutely perfect and beautiful, from two people with the sweetest of intentions that I would never want to hurt.
After much deliberation, and discussion with Freesia Sister, as well as a friend who happens to have 2 daughters around my age, I decided a change into a reception dress would be a perfect time to change necklaces. Freesia Mom’s pearls with the wedding dress we picked out together, Freesia Uncle’s pearls with the reception dress.
So, to find a reception dress within a reasonable budget. When I imagined my wedding dress, there were a few qualities that I thought of that did not end up a part of the wedding dress I chose. I’m hoping that maybe this will be a chance to incorporate a few of those qualities: something flowy, with an open back…and above the knee since it will be a summer reception dress. I’m aiming for less than $200. I have emailed a couple of dressmakers. One would make the dress for $250, but I’m concerned of the chance that it wouldn’t turn out. This is the “sketch” I sent (I know I’m no designer!):
 "front", "back" option 1 or "back" option 2
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Luckily for us, our venue provides tall centerpieces. They look like this:
 {Source}
When we revisited the venue, I had the chance to see the tables set up for a wedding that was going to occur the next day. Here’s what the tables looked like:
 {Personal Photo}
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If you know me, I absolutely love anything vintage! I was shopping at Anthropologie one day and I discovered this vintage glass (listed below). I fell in love with the design and I knew I had to get something like this for all the guest tables. Unfortunately, I’m probably having 30+ guest tables and I don’t want to be spending $6 for each glass. I found ones from Pier 1 for under a dollar, but I’m not too crazy about the design.
Do you have any suggestions where I can find each for $1 or less?
Colors Options: Pink, Green, Orange, and Clear
Apple Sauce and I just got back from our first cake tasting! We met with the very lovely and talented Betsy at Nine Cakes, a boutique cake studio in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and we were pretty much sold as soon as we walked in. In fact, before we even tasted anything, Apple Sauce whispered to me, “I like her. Let’s give her money!”
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Ah, the famous list. We drew one up shortly after we got engaged, but since then the “list” has not been revisited. Time to take it out – and finalize it! We have a strict venue person limit, so we have to make sure to not go over it. At the same time, it’s important to invite the “right” guests.
![wedding archived,]( "Finalizing the Guest List")
 (Source)
Umm, yeah. I wish it was as simple as following a flow chart, LOL.
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Having your parents pay for your wedding obviously has its advantages.
But it has its disadvantages, too – namely, if you disagree on something. Luckily, so far my parents have been very flexible and have let me have pretty much anything I want, which is more than generous.
One of the things we disagree on, unfortunately, is having a sweethearts table:
{I have no idea where this picture is from! I saved it to my computer awhile ago!}
We’re not having a bridal party – except for our two attendants/witnesses, so I figured the sweethearts table wouldn’t be a problem. I love the concept of the sweethearts table. I love that Mr. Magnolia and I would be able to be just the two of us (at least while we’re sitting and eating) at some point during the wedding. So many couples say that they don’t get any time together, and I was hoping this will steal some time for us, even if we’re surrounded by our loved ones. My reception hall also wasn’t too pleased with the idea of the sweethearts table, calling it “sad/lonely” for the bride and groom. Ummm… no.
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To add to the list of rebel bride things I am not having, please add “The Bouquet Toss”.
And it’s really not because I have anything against them. I participated in bouquet tosses and I haven’t felt ridiculous or anything like that. I don’t think it’s degrading, or desperate. I think it’s just a reception tradition, and it’s fun when there’s a large group of women.
 {Image Source}
The reason I’m nixing it is because of our guest list size, only close friends were invited to the wedding. And I don’t have that many close friends and cousins of bouquet-catching age, and I think having, you know, a small group of women waiting to catch a bouquet is awkward. So, we’re not doing it.
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I don’t know about you guys, but I am ready to PARTY at my wedding. And no party is complete without a bangin’ soundtrack. That’s why booking the right talent was top of our planning priorities list.
When we looked for DJs, we kept an eye out for those familiar with the club scene — someone who could layer beats and keep the flow going — rather than the ones who are equipped with party “extras” like plastic leis and inflatable saxophones. And we were pleased to find out that what we were looking for — a chill yet adept table jockey — is much cheaper than the guy who pulls up in a party bus.
So how’d we vet these dudes? I administered a mini DJ test…
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My sister got married two years, almost to the day, before Freesia Dude proposed. She and I are rather close in age and in friendship. I was her MOH and she is mine. The day she got engaged was the day that I started paying attention to all those details at weddings that one does not usually consider. From my point of view, she handled the whole process like a champ. She had every bit of it under control and turned out an amazing wedding that totally encompassed the personalities of her and her new husband. It took around a year to plan her fairly sizable wedding. During her planning, I decided that if when my day came I would do a destination wedding and if not, it would be small and simple and DEFINITELY not take longer than a few months to plan.
One of the first questions I was asked after becoming engaged was whether I would have a destination wedding. Immediately I said no, I would miss out on several things that I will only get to have one chance at. I had set in my mind that I would plan a wedding on the Texas beaches that Freesia Dude and I both grew up on.
I dreamed of a ceremony on the beach at sunset, in front of a beach house that would hold the reception. A small number, around 50 or so of our closest friends and family, would make a fabulous, yet not overwhelming, party. After all, socializing does make me tired! (My apologies, this is a small joke from my family that originated during my brother’s engagement to my now sister-in-law. After attending a couple of wedding preparation events, I returned home exhausted and explained that “socializing makes me tired”, it has stuck ever since.) So a quaint wedding on the beach had my name all over it….until I began to consider who those “50-ish guests” would be, and where there was a beach house on the Texas coast that did not have a septic system that would be massively overloaded by 50 people! (again, my apologies, this time for the unsettling example)
Freesia Dude and I began looking between Galveston and Surfside Beach. This land is not within city limits, allowing us to hold fireworks which would be nice as we were hoping to have a July 4th wedding (this will be our 5th “dating-anniversary”). Also, it is less crowded, but has fewer homes. While searching we found a couple houses that looked like they might work, so we took a Saturday drive to the beach to take a look. The first house we drove to was filled with quite a buzz and, judging by the white tulle draped on the railings, we suspected they were setting up a wedding!
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I burn toast. It’s really awful. But alas I planned to talk about the illustrious wedding toasts not my ineptitude with kitchen appliances.
When I delivered my toast at my sisters wedding I had no desire to burn anyone! Or anything for that matter.Like in Miranda’s Toast on Sex and the City!
 Image from: austinpost.org I’ve seen some good toasts and some very bad ones, so I thought I’d share some times for making a toast.
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