Seven-And-A-Half-Months And Counting

It's been almost a month since I've last written--between post-holiday recovery, the semester starting, and life in general, I've been out of commission with blogging! But the wedding planning still continues.

Last month, we booked a day-of wedding coordinator and decorator (Kate at ATrendy Weddings, Inc.), reserved rehearsal dinner space at LightFoot restaurant (thank you, KaJe and Jerry!), and have unearthed many, many more decorative ideas for the reception.

So, as of today, we've got 7.5 months to go until the big day, and though we've made a pretty big dent in the wedding process, we've got oh-so-much more to do.

At the 7.5-month mark, we need to focus on the following for the next 1-2 months:

• Bridesmaid dress for Jen
• Flower selection
• Creating sample/test decorations for reception
  
• Stationary
• Cake decor
  
• Honeymoon/wedding night reservations
• Finalizing wedding musicians
• Register for gifts
  

What's interesting is that the first five to-dos are all dependent on color--the theme that will tie everything together. Based on our linen selection, it seems that we are focusing on whites, ivories, browns, and natural organic flowers and greenery. I'd like to thread that through everything, I think--dead tree branches, eyelet, ivory ribbon, lace, rust, and candlelight.

We have much to do! But we're going strong, and hanging in there.

Next steps:

• Continue to check-in with Bell/Blake duo while searching for musician alternatives.
• Make a trip to Michael's and G-Street Fabric for supplies to test out votives, signs, and possibly invitations.
• Make trips to stationary/paper stores.
• Register for gifts.
  
• Reserve appointments at 2-3 boutiques for March when Jen come to visit.
• Revisit Oatlands (once they reopen March 23) to test out linens, chairs, and some preliminary decorations.
• Write Katherine Farley (at Oatlands) about using their branch/light decor.

More to follow!

Updated Appointments

Okay, so we have two more appointments on our wedding radar, so I'm posting them here to keep on top of it all. Can't believe 2009 is around the corner!! Steady as she goes, steady as she goes.

See Alice's updated wedding appointments.

Next Steps: At the 10-month mark

So here we are, 10 months till the wedding, and it's time to size up where we are, what's left to do. Okay, strike that. What's left to do is too much. How about what's left to do in the next few weeks. Yes. That will do.

So, what we've accomplished: wedding date, ceremony and reception venue, officiant, photographer for wedding day, engagement photos taken, chef/caterer, rough idea of menu for wedding supper, rustic theme selected for reception, general ideas for reception decor, and possible musicians for ceremony and reception.

Next steps:

• Meet with pastry chef, Caroline Taylor.
• Visit We Party in McLean--linens, tables, glassware, chairs.
• Visit Carriage House--size up linen samples. Select colors.
• Book, officially, Bell and Blake musicians for Oct. 3rd date. Request playlist.
  
• Pick stationary, invites, Save the Date cards.
• Pick wedding dress (I have until February for this, to ensure time for fittings).
• Enroll in dance lessons at Dance Factory (begin this in February).
• Finalize decor reception.
  

Fancy Cakery

Wedding Supper: We're Thinking Cornbread

So we're in the beginning stages of selecting courses for our wedding supper in the Carriage House, and trying to narrow things down. We've perused the lists of two caterers recommended by Oatlands: RSVP and Amphora. Both are lovely and affordable, and we think we can pull together something quite tasty! However, we have to admit: we're really feeling cornbread. It's true: we want cornbread.

Overall, with the rustic feel of Oatlands, we are thinking we'd like the food to also be homey and genuine, have a kick of autumn to it in the Virginia heartland. We are open to ideas, many ideas, and anything that works well--you guessed it--with cornbread. I am soliciting thoughts. Suggestions. Brainstorms. All of the above.

We will need a first course (salad, preferably), main entree (some kind of beef or chicken), cocktail appetizers for right after the reception, and possibly cute little tarts in addition to wedding cake (though this latter is optional).

I'm looking for recipes. Alice thanks you. And her cornbread fettish. We both thank you.

Engagement Photo Session!!

Our check to Ms. Jennifer Chase is off and in the mail, and we've scheduled our engagement photo shoot for Wednesday, October 29th at 4 p.m. Jennifer has a few great ideas up her sleeve. We thought we'd begin the session at Oatlands itself--near the old barns with broken windows and the mountain scape of the Blue Ridge--and then finish up our last hour in historic downtown Leesburg at a bookstore on Main Street (picking up on our literary theme). I have no idea what to wear for the shoot (!), but Chris and I were thinking our best pair of blue jeans and cool colors to contrast with the peak foliage! Stay tuned for photos... coming your way!

Through the Rabbit Hole: Gown Shopping in Virginia

Here is a list, at least a beginning one, of local boutiques in the DC metro area that have several of the gowns by designers (though not all) that I'm interested in. I'm not sure when I'll begin the descent into the rabbit hole that is wedding gown shopping, but this is a least a good start. Danielle, during her visit last week, took me to Sax at Tysons II, but sadly there seemed very little to choose from. Fortunately, though, there is a trunk show on October 24th, so hope to venture out to see that!

One thing I have been learning, though, is that purchasing a gown from a boutique requires foresight and good planning, with six months to order until arrival, and up to four months of customization and tailoring. On our time line, that would mean having a gown (should I buy it from a boutique) by December!

A starter list of boutiques in Northern Virginia, MD, and DC area, at least for the next few weeks. I'll be adding to this...!

Hannelore's, Alexandria, Virginia: La Fleur by Anne Barge gowns.
Jeanette's, Manassas, Virginia: Augusta Jones gowns.
Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection, Baltimore, Maryland: Amsale gowns.

A Photographer, Alice Has

Last evening Chris and I met with Ms. Jennifer Chase in Rosslyn, and we have, I can report, most certainly found our photographer. Five eight, dirty blond, extroverted, Jennifer purchased tea and coffee for us at the Starbucks on 17th St., making us feel right at home, welcomed, as if the city were her office.

She impressed us immediately with her passion for photography, her selection at elite workshops by renowned photographers, her business savvy, her dedication to Chris and me, and, most of all, her consideration of our comfort level on our wedding day. What struck me is her desire to know us, to understand us as a couple, as her mission, she said, was to render our relationship in a frame with authenticity and a voice, for the photos to speak.

She had a number of wonderful suggestions for the wedding day, and for the engagement shots:

• Candid shots of bride and groom before the wedding. In her experience, the groom is so aware of all eyes watching his reaction when the bride comes down the aisle, that this expression is all too often exaggerated or forced, and that she has found groom and bride shots before the ceremony to loosen both up, to help them be more in the "now" as they exchange their vows. This way, too, there would be more light to use rather than racing against the clock at 6 after the ceremony. Chris and I are open to this idea.
  
• Sparklers as a send-off at the end of reception. This was Somer's lovely idea, too, and one I had initially loved. The idea is to have guests make a pathway of sparklers outside the Carriage House at the end of the evening, and for Chris and I to make our way down the aisle, to the parking lot, and off to our bed and breakfast. Sparklers against a night sky, Jennifer said, make amazing shots.
  
• 75% candids and loosely arranged shots, 25% portraiture photography. The portraiture would take place immediately following the ceremony, consisting of bride's and groom's family, the wedding party, and bride and groom themselves. After this session, the bride and groom would have a series of loosely arranged shots in the gardens, leading up until the reception.
• Designate a "herder" of people for these portrait shots. Jen recommended someone who was willing to be quite active in gathering folks for their portrait shots. Portrait shots themselves are quick and easy to shoot. It's the gathering of people for the shots that takes time and wastes good light! Perhaps Somer might helps us?
  
• Second photographer to shoot candids of guests at cocktail hour and coming into the ceremony garden.
• Jen to photograph bride getting ready, second photographer to photograph groom.
• No shots of guests sitting at reception tables. I couldn't agree with this more. Jen's experience shows that pictures of guests eating or sitting behind a white canvas of a table cloth do not make particularly engaging photos.
• 1 hour at Oatlands for engagement session, 1 hour at a used book store in downtown Leesburg. The goal of engagement shots, Jen explained, is to capture the couple. With our literary-themed wedding, she has wonderful ideas for locations and shots. Jen said that, upon definitely going with her, she would call Oatlands and get an idea of the peak foliage colors, as these would make beautiful photos.
  
• 50% off on any album we choose.
• DVD archive of all digital photos highly suggested. From this, we will forever be able to view and print wedding photos, which is an excellent idea, as the pictures will only be stored for 6 months on Jen's server.
  

In short, we are sold on Ms. Chase. The price breakdown would work like this:

BRIDE'S FAMILY:

• $3,000: Eight hours of photography, proof book, 6-month online album and printing.
  
• $500: Second photographer
• $500: DVD archive of all photos taken.
• Total: $4,000 (within budget)
  

CHRIS AND ALLY

• $250 (after 50% discount): Printed coffee table album of 60 large prints.
• $400: Engagement session and DVD of all photos taken for printing and use on the wedding website I'm in the process of designing.
• Total: $650

Jen will be sending us over a contract sometime this week to review, and to return with a 50% security payment of $2,000--half the cost of the main package items.

We love her! Mom, let me know your thoughts on this. I will forward you the contract when I get it!