Wedding Planning 101: My Sister's Big Day + May 21, 2011

So I have recently (since Decemberish) been put to the task of planning my sisters wedding.  Seeing that at some times in my life I believe that probably should have been my career - I was quite over joyed at the idea of planning again.  One interesting fact for you that don't know my sister...is that we tend to be opposites but so far I have done well in the process.  I just have been spending so much hardwork and time on DIY details that I might blog my experience for anyone willing to listen.

Task 1: Theme

Lots of dreaming, thinking, drawing, creating and FUN!  Google world is great with photos of weddings - so saving images to the whole lap top is easy - Come up with a theme and stick to it - After only one minor hiccup on my sisters part of OH CHANGING the date from september to May and oh wait changing colors and theme - we finally are set on a theme that worked - heres some images below - Basically - lots of sparkle, Hot pink and Lime green - Romantic at the church (Niceville UMC) and fun/funky/festive at the reception location (Anglers Beachside Bar & Grill)

 

men look good in PINK daisies

Loving the limes- but hot pink daisies



Gift box idea - again pink and green



Lots of Bling is necessary

Wedding favor stickers

Colleens bouquet of Tulips, daisies, gerbers



No butterflies as Colleen quickly said -  we like the shape of this cake - and it will fit 200 cupcakes - we just want a cupcake wedding cake in HOT pink with rhinestone accents everywhere

Task 2:  BUDGET
BUDGET - excel was my savior - thank you to Troy University for the useless but now wonderful required computer course! We are working with a smaller budget so I want it to go AS FAR as possible to give my sister the day of her dreams - a mistake i learned from my wedding was to book a venue BEFORE thoroughly assessing your budget - FOOD costs A LOT of money AND THEN gratuity (usually 18-20%) and taxes not originally budgeted on a large bill might add a couple thousand to the overall price at the end.  Be prepared for this! Know how many people you want to invite and then budget per head - including the extras! This is a couple who are both from a small town having the event in a small town - so the invite list is larger! When making your budget also categorize what is important to you - less flowers, bigger dress...or maybe lots of flowers, simpler dress and a ton of food - just remember its your day and you can make it happen!

Task 3: BOOKING

So you have your budget in hand and you know your theme - FIND a venue that fits both you pocketbook and your style.  Once location is booked and times set you can start ordering invites ALSO Florists and Photographers tend to be a bigger priced option - So book those as well but know your budget...if there is something or someone you really love, don't forget you can move numbers around but not mountains!

When booking the photographer, see if there is someone you know, if you are getting married in a small town like Niceville - if you know the photographer it definitely makes it more personal! When I got married 2 years ago, Sarah Clauson did my photos, I had known her through my church for many years so it made  photo taking more fun/personal and less posey. My pictures turned out beautiful and just how I envisioned them! Colleen chose Kailyn from k.p. photography because she knew her and She enjoyed her style from the previous events she had photographed- she is a photographer who knows Niceville well and can capture it well. Colleen Already got her engagement pictures done with her and LOVES THEM (pictured below)

Book your cake designer - Give yourself a 30-40mile radius because some bakers are willing to drive.  Cakesbytanis.com did my wedding cake 2 years ago and she did a wonderful job, she did mine even though she is in Panama City, FL and my wedding was in Niceville AND drove it to my reception!  My sister is choosing a cupcake wedding cake design, so we are doing it DIY - more fun and PICTURES TO COME

Flowers may be super important to you and can be really pricey! Look around locally at recent weddings and who there florist was.  Your location might have preferred vendor lists that you can use.  Florists are great about helping you stay within your budget and still have your dream come true wedding.  For my wedding, I used Patty of http://perfectdayweddingflorist.com/ and my flowers looked amazing and she really worked with me - It was a wonderful experience! Colleen has decided to let me express my DIY itch - Thank you sister!! So I will be posting more trial runs in the future - If you aren't all bored from this post!

Don't forget the entertainment at your gig - Scout for local Talent if you want acoustic, local DJs if you want a hip to the hop reception or a local Jazz band if you want swing.  If you were a member of a sorority, you can contact your social chair with other possible music connections!

Task 4: Invites - we were set on the locations and times -so we used weddingpaperdivas.com for the invitations - For my wedding i made mine - which saved a lotta cash but not a whole bunch of time! For colleen we were able to budget to get the invitations she loved at a great price - we also decided to RSVP via their wedding website which saved on a bit of shipping cost - Colleen figured we could play into the whole lets go wireless theme - No invites on facebook quite yet - who knows whats to come!

Task 5: DIY  -  Decide what exactly DIY means to you.  As mentioned before I am a PA student in my second year of rotations so I study a ton- which at times makes me feel like I have no life and i am killing my artistic spirit - so i decided DIY to the extreme/ GO BIG or GO HOME.  I am creating the floral arrangements for her wedding, Crystal Curtains, doing the programs and creating the cupcake tower and cupcakes for the big day (yes 200 cupcakes baby - coming right at ya!). Oh yes and am the hired decorator for the reception and church venue.  Much more blogging will come as I "PRACTICE" the art of doing these activities.  It should prove interesting at the least - "I think I can" will be a motto i plan to stick to, or better yet - I know I can!  Since I am the bridesmaid - I chose to take this on - IF you are a bride and do not have a sister willing to do this for you - MIGHT not recommend it for your groom's own sanity. Just know what you are taking on and plan on needing good help!

I will stop writing this novel on Task 5 and keep you updated on how things are coming in the planning and creating stage - I was just bottling this all in and needing to creatively write/post about it to someone other than my husband (God Bless him for listening as much as he does and yes he doesn't care one bit about what flower would go better or going shopping with me at Hobby Lobby but YET he still goes to keep me happy :)

Peace & Love - Kaet

New Year, New location

It is so interesting to continually wait in anticipation for what the Lord might due next in your life... James and I feel like perpetual change is good because it has definitely been our married life thus far!!  After River left us, we decided that an earlier move than expected was in order - so we have since moved for the 4th time since we got married to Martin, TN in early jan partly due to my rotation locations.  It is by far the smallest house either of us have lived in, we had to sell basically our entire house in McKenzie at a local flea market (that was quite the experience, I discovered how horrible at bargaining I am and how small town Niceville is NOT) and stuff everything into an efficiency apartment.
We now we sit every night on a love seat, shoulders touching with no room but lots of love. Yes Callie the 100lb German shephard is here with us too - she has her own dog bed as big as our couch...she's not spoiled at all

I think about these times and how much we will treasure the little moments and the closeness we have - the funny stories about the cramped house in Martin! We have learned so much about life, love, each other, grief, joy in the time I have called our "Nomad" years - it has been a blessing to both of us but quite the adventure.

Currently I have started my rotation year and have been in family practice for 7 weeks now.  Clinical year is so much better than the didactic school year so far - Never thought I could forget how to talk to people but I struggled the first few days with putting my thoughts into words! I had been stuck with my nose in a book for so long, common conversation was difficult! I since have become better and am thoroughly enjoying the people that I care daily-- makes me love my chosen profession more every day! So excited for May 2012 when I will officially be done!

James and I have had amazing news since my last post.  Through darkness comes light, I believe it every day - James will be relocating back to Niceville, Florida in late April  to start his dream job! We couldn't be happier - he was so patient this year with me and helping me obtain my degree, I couldn't help but be so excited about the thought of him starting his own desired career path.  Yes if you are wondering that means that we will be seperated beginning in May but hopefully I will be able to move down in November to finish my optional rotations in the Niceville/Panhandle area! I have missed the sunshine and great people - and can't WAIT to come home.  When you are away - you long for it more - and I am homesick as they come!  Prayers will definetly be appreciated through the change, but I will keep you updated :)

Life changes constantly and nothing can be anticipated, so as believers we must listen close and watch for the signs of God moving within our lives.  The challenge is saying yes - accepting the next move and being confident in what God has in store for you.  Blessings friends - Peace and Love

With Heavy Hearts

So James and I woke today after a whorlwind of travels during Christmas and New Years with no cares or worries in our home in McKenzie, TN like many other Sundays.  River was curled up in his kennel and wide awake as soon as we heard him stirring.  We close today in a quiet house filled with wild emotions and tears without River, mourning his loss greatly.  Never would I believe in my wildest dreams such a little dog could touch more hearts in his short time here than today.  James and I truly grieve because it felt and still feels as if we have lost a family member. 

He fought hard while he was surrounded by love until his last moment in James and I's lap in the vet's parking lot.  We had never noticed how he smiled until the last few breaths but it was there and We knew it was his time - His adventurous little heart and nose lead him in the road with James looking on just at the wrong moment.  We accept it was no ones fault it's just the way it is, only the Lord knows the purpose.  We cried, then cried some more and then thought of the joy one dog had brought us since April.  We chose to began to look on how God had so strategically placed him in our lives when James and I were needing him most.

Some might find it silly that we mourn so deeply over an animal - but that's okay because we truly believe he was a Gift from God.  As mentioned in my previous year, this was a tough year for me - one where I could not always be the wife I wanted for James.  River took on part of that burden for me, he was James's best friend when I couldn't be.  He was the running partner, the lake friend, the hiking comrade and the bicycle buddy for James why I had to study inside.  He gave James some purpose during this tough year, gave him a person to be and I believe changed his heart.

River taught us many things about love, joy, faith and forgiveness and he continued to teach us things through his death.  He showed us today how much love our family and friends have for us.  How they would give anything to help us heal - how BLESSED are we.  Blessed to be touched by so many lives and even more blessed to be touched by his.  He will never be forgotten or replaced, He was James and I's first animal and love as a married couple. 

God is so Great  and so mighty to save - He loves through all and grieves with all who are hurting and alone.  He continues to bring light in the darkness and wants to love you with His whole heart.  James and I realize how short life is and how quickly time can pass, our New Year's resolution for this year is to Love without Limits and to live each day as if It is our last. We love and miss you River buddy - Thank you for the Joy you continue to bring.

Sooo apparently I need to Document our life!

I am very surprised that is has taken me this long to get around to documenting life in word form.  Writing is something that comes naturally for me, unlike the torture I am currently putting myself through with memorizing all types of facts in school.  Writing is freedome in a sense.

This blog will be like most, documenting the life that James and I have begun and our month to month interesting stories.  If no one else enjoys it, I do know our families will love our crazy stories. 

We are currently living in McKenzie, TN while I (Kaet) am working on getting a Masters studying to be Physician Assistant.  James is thriving working as an admissions counselour for Bethel University (the school I am attending) and is currently obtaining his MBA.

God challenged us last year when we were living in Destin, FL with a move to TN - a place where james had no job, 10 hours away in a very small small town.  We believed it was were the Lord wanted us, so off we went.  Some thought it was awesome, others thought it was crazy but we believed.  Believed the Lord would deliver and how awesome - He did! James with a Job and our family with a house in one day! Knocked our socks off, but we can always kinda expect that from Him

Since the move we have added one family member on- a rescue lab/golden retriever mix who had started life in a dumpster with some tough times and sickness as a small guy.  He has been such a JOY! constant reminder of the true forgiveness God grants us all - He is such a people lover even when we was treated so wrong.  Funny how that works.

As Christmas rolls around - we look forward to the next year and what God might have planned for us.. 1. because everytime James and I "think" we have a plan - he likes to change it - he's so clever  and 2.  We like the sense of adventure not knowing brings.

By the way, james is reading the book Radical - definitely a deep thinker - Check it out!
Love and peace,
Kaet & James