A Very Patriotic Wedding

wedding cupcakes

Over Presidents’ Day Weekend our good friends Kathryn and Eric tied the knot.  This wedding made my heart swell with happiness, watching two people I care about very much exchange vows and become officially “one.”  Plus it was local, so not traveling and getting to sleep in my own bed (bonus) made it that much more amazing.

Wedding at Cathedral of St. Matthew the ApostleKathryn_Eric_Wedding_St_Matthew

That gorgeous wedding ceremony didn’t even feel like an hour plus Catholic all-out mass.  And by the way, can we all agree that the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle complete with a beautiful, full wedding gown totally takes your breath away?  Thought so.

Things really picked up later that evening at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  Mike and I held that venue as a top-tier front-runner for our reception, so we were thrilled with Kat & Eric picked it for their celebration.   From their mac n’ cheese bar to the grilled cheese  bites with tomato soup shooters to the dessert table complete with cake balls, their foot hot the spot!  And when the groom sang and played Bruno Mars’ Marry You?  Everyone melted.

You know how the newly married couple are like celebrities and everyone wants their picture?  Yeah we were those people.

Kathryn_Eric_wedding_crowndvic

They really put a lot of work into the details of their party, and it showed.  I loved their “pin the dot on DC” spin with how long you knew the couple.

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And the Patriotic photo-booth and props. Love!

Patriotic Photobooth CrowndVic Instagram

The Presidents even made it out on the dance floor for a little fun later in the evening.

Presidents_Cardboard_Cutouts

It was a great celebration overall, not just a great party!

A huge congrats to Kat & Eric.  May you always be as happy as you were on  your wedding day!

Welcome Bags!

I find welcome bags a nice touch upon hotel arrival.  You get to your event city, check in at the hotel, and a fun little bag of goodies awaits you! 

I’m on the search for a white whale. 
I want deep purple (no lilac or lavender crap), medium sized (8x4x10), glossy coated, with stand up handles, bags.  And I need about plus-or-minus thirty count at around a dollar a pop.
Nothing specific or anything…

My illusive search led me to many dead ends.
Until I found that photo above! Genius!  I thought my search was over, until pressing “order” & learning all but one of those bags were out of stock. When I called the company I then found out they were back-ordered two weeks, with an additional 2 week’s shipping time.  If you’re smart like me, you realize that’s exactly 4 weeks and pushing it way to close to the wedding. 
So back to square one.

Then it happened when I least expected it.
I found a bag.  A new bag. A beautiful bag.
The perfect bag.
And you can’t see it yet.
But the level of perfection is out of this world.

Beyond that, I’m focused on their contents.
Obviously we need a welcome letter with itinerary, a city map, a metro (subway) map, and some goodies.  Mike and I plan on hitting up Costco soon to purchase water bottles, prepackaged cookies, and individual baggies of chips.

Sooo… suggestions?  What would be fun to see in welcome bags?
What have you received or what did you put in hotel welcome bags?

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Eau du Wha?

When first engaged a friend recommended I do some “scent-memory-association” thing where I wear a perfume while wedding planning, to always associate the two.  I immediately turned it down because not all wedding planning is fluff and unicorns. 
The idea of connecting something potentially hazardous with a purdy scent – well, the two lacked connection.

But now? Now that I can see the horizon and might be freaking out a little bit? 
Well in true Vicki fashion, instead of addressing what might be bothering me (you know, the fact that my wedding is creeping up on me) I tackle another issue instead:
What perfume will I wear on my wedding day?

This is important, but could probably wait.
So let’s go ahead and discuss this today!

But the stupid internet lacks scent options, so hopefully you know what these smell like.
In my current collection I own:
Ralph Lauren’s Blue (light, gardenia-eque)
Tommy Girl (light, flowery)
Chloe Narcisse (musky, reminds me of my mom – she wears it)
Versace’s Red Jeans (light, musky)
Givenchy’s Amarige (heavier, smells like everything, my fav)

Of all those, I heart Amarige the most.  Like tons.  But I’m all out. 
None left to spray.

I recently smelled a new one by Prada and LOVED it but forget the name.
I also am a fan of Cartier’s eau du something or other.

I’m open to suggestions.  I’m ready to hit up the fragrance section of Macy’s and let them spray pieces of paper for me (but not ON me because I have allergy issues, which is a whole ‘nother problem)

So, what your scent suggestion?!

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Flowers, a la cart

Recall how I recently met with our potential florist? We discussed flower options and prices, and he made everything all better. He talked about renting linens and chairs for less than caterers quoted.  His vision of my color scheme set me at ease.  He gave me options.  Finally there was hope for my wedding, as I felt everything would look crappy together.  He painted a picture of beauty for me.

And then the other day he painted a picture of price for us, a la cart.  When I first opened up the attachment I scrolled down for a final cost, to find none.  Then I realized he really did give us options.  While I will of course need a bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces – he laid out different options for other line items.  For center pieces we can have high or low ones, each at a different price.  There are even two versions of each.  Mixing things up will make for an aesthetically pleasing layout, and also a financially pleasing budget.

The mothers can choose from a small floral carry bouquet or a pin-on or wrist corsage, both of reasonable prices (but one is less than the other…).

To top things off, for our flower girl we can choose either a small basket of floral at a reasonable price, or loose petals free of charge.  The same goes for the rental vase for the sweetheart table and the toss bouquet: free of charge!

Yet somehow it all adds up to exactly what we budgeted.
You only do this once, hopefully, right?
Might as well dress it up with flowers!

“Vintage” Vicki and Mike, circa 2007 living on the edge.
(This is what we look like without flowers.)

Bouquets and Boutonnieres!

Continuing on the flower trend, I found a bunch of photos of bouquets that struck my fancy.  These are the photos in the previous post which I offered to our florist for ideas.

1.  LOVE the green mums in this one!   {source}
2.  LOVE the Fiddlehead Ferns in this one, PLUS the anemones {source}
3.  Absolutely LOVE how the Picasso calla lilies POP in this arrangement! {source}
4.  Totally drawn to the use of peacock feathers and peonies here (but not the wrapping of the base) {source}

 We can’t forget about the men! Of course their boutonnieres will feature peacock feathers, and will tie in with the bouquets. I liked theses ideas:

1.   The purple accents in this one are great. Also love the wrapping around the bottom! {source}
2.   This one is very whimsical, and the lime green accents on the wrapping are sweet. {source}
3.   A Fiddlehead fern AND a peacock feather! Love it! {source}

What did your bouquet or boutonnieres look like?