E-Pics

I am very excited to say, Bobby and I finally did I E-Pics a week in a half ago with Ms. Fola Adewole and her husband Aba at the Senator Theatre. My favorite jewel of Baltimore, MD (well one of my favorite jewels and what I wouldn't givee to have our wedding there)

The theatre folks were so gracious to allow us to not just photograph outside of the theatre but in the theatre as well. How exciting, talk about really feeling like a movie star.

The shoot started in one of the main theatres in which we had the whole spot. We took pictures on the stage in front of the theatre, underneath a gorgeous chandelear. We then headed out to a graffiti based wall in good ole Hampden right next to Holy Frijoles ( also one of our favorite spots and the place we ate at on our first date.

We laughed and giggled the whole time and even had the pups with us (little miss Leah and mr.roger)

We had such an amazing time, we both can't wait to see them. But here is a link to see a wonderful kiss photo of us on the theatre stage ( we are the 2nd photo down).

First Dance

First let me say my apologies for not writing in the past few weeks, with moving to our new home (yeaaah) and my dealing with the dogs and the potential of going back to school and 9000 things, I have been quite overwhelmed these last few weeks. Well with 90 some days to go I am hitting the pavement and running hard.

This particular post is about our First dance. As you may or may not know I am a dancer and have been dancing for years, I am talking everything hip hop, jazz, lyrical contemporary. I love it! So the dance portions of the wedding mean a lot to me.

We have been having some major dilema's in picking our first dance song. I originally wanted Etta James "At Last" but not only is that played a ton of times at peoples weddings, I am actually quite frankly sick of the song. So it was back to the drawing board. I suggested Lucky Jason Mraz and Colby Cole or however her last name is spelled (opps sorry) but Mr. too cool for words doesn't think its appropriate.

So back to the drawing board. Which as I continue to locate tons of music since we are going the Ipod DJ route! (Expect a post on that soon)

But I will leave you with this youtube video that I lovvveed that Ms. Fola shared with me today. How much fun is this?

The budget

The budget, the thing I think all brides dread. We are on a servere budget like the bride that has the $2000 wedding I am looking around the same thing or less. I think I am pretty thrifty and enjoy a good sale. Although this week a lone I saved a ton of money but not eating lunch out of the office not one day!!! Now working on a budget should be no thing, since I work for a non profit where budgets are always a crying matter!

Lately I have noticed all the hubbub about budgets and I am almost embrassed when I see other couples who have sent oh lets say $50K, is there not something else besides a wedding that you could spend that money and use. With todays economy I still can't believe folks can spend that on a wedding ( well I am sure they don't work for a non profit)

Anyway, I wanted to share with you all a breakdown of my budget or at least what has been spent so far.

(sorry these are in no kinda order)

Wedding Blog (free, thanks google)
Wedding Dress Ebay $350 included shipping (purchased from before)
Church Free (but will give the church a donation)

Save the dates Vista Print $34.00
Postage (already had from before)$10 a the most or less

Bridesmaid Newsletters:
Folder $1.50
Printing Free
Postage $1.50x 4

Candy Buffet
Jar 1 $6.99
square Jar borrowed
Round jar $2.99
Mosaic Bowls purchased from before $2.00 ea clearance after xmas sale Michaels

Oh and I recently purchased the lovely Gocco $143.00

So far I thinking I am doing good!

Blessed Be thy name

Well to put it out there, I am a Catholic girl raised Roman Catholic.Well being that the Cathlic tradition is very traditional when it comes to getting married, needless to say we just aren't working with that type of time frame. Sad to say I won't be getting married in a Catholic Church.

However, I found a very quaint and beautiful church in my new neighborhood. The minister is absolutely great and just wonderful and he has offered to marry us and allow us to do the ceremony in the church.

So needless to say I am thrilled and very excited to decorate the church which actually has been the easiest decisions I have had to make. To give you a quick run down:

Monogram aisle runner (DIY)
Flower cones on every other pew (DIY) White Flowers with a few blue hydrangea's mixed in
White pearl wreaths with blue and brown ribbon (DIY)

So that's it well of course the programs and tissue packets that I will include in them.

So without further delay here are some photos of my inspiration

I am in love with a Gocco

Yes I am all about the Gocco Craze! And yes it is truly that a craze. For weeks and months I have been pulling my hair out over our invites. What color, what style, what graphic and just the overall look. I already know the wording, I just need the design feature.

I really want an Apple Mac (not a big mac) this would really resolve all of my design issues right, well they are $1500 + so that will have to wait just a little bit. Sorry I got off track :-p but the current solution was to get a Gocco. Everything I buy now I try to rationalize, how much will I actually use or or how many times will it get worn etc...

I figured with the Gocco, I can not only do wedding related things but Christmas Cards, Birthday cards, all sorts of things. Great right! Well I am still thrifty and just spending $300 on this machine plus the supplies would def. cost me a pretty penny, which with moving, planing a high glamour little budget, attempting to go back to school in the fall might be out of the budget.

Well as many of you know (or I hope you know) I am a blogger on Blogger Brides and frequent the Wedding Bee boards. I always always always look for deals and steals. Now of course everyone there has theirs listed for $250 or $300 not including shipping, well low and behold I got a super deal for under $200 with shipping.

On the same night I was able to find inks at a discount price as well. Now once I save a little I do plan on hoarding supplies, since the Gocco will no longer be made.

Here is my beauty :) A PG 5

In Love with the theatre

Hello the Senator Theatre that is. A very historical site here in Maryland, a very unique movie theatre very old skool style. Since I am planning a vintage style wedding with modern twists. How amazing would it be to take photos at the theatre.

Well after begging,searching, annoying, pleading, everyone I could to get me in at the theatre I was able to talk to the owner, who Baltimore being the small town it is, near the past company I worked for and some of my work.

The sad part is that the city is putting the theatre up for auction in July and you know being the organizer I am, I just can't have that.

I have a wonderful photographer by the name of Fola Adewole(www.folaadewole.com/blog) please check her work out it is amazing! She will be taking our E-Pics at the theatre. How exciting! We are super excited to be working with our new friend and to also do some good for the theatre. I plan on giving the theatre a pic or two to show what beauty can happen at the theatre and how people feel about it.

Newies

So I am hoping on the band wagon and providing my lovely ladies with newsletters. All of my ladies work incredibly hard and are always super busy! When I say busy I mean crazy busy. My maid of honor lives about an hour or more from her full time job (what a commute!) she then drives to her part time and works till almost midnight, 3 nights a week.

Bridesmaid number one, works full time as a graphic designer and is trying to get certified as a YOGA instructor so she has many classes and workshops to go to.

Bridesmaid number two, is an amazing dancer (I consider her to be my little sister) and she is always performing and auditioning ( did I mention all of us are dancers)

Bridesmaid number three (also a dancer)works very hard and also will be in the process of planning her own wedding soon too.

So we def. have a full plate! So to keep everyone informed what better way then a newsletter, these little puppies took me foooorever! I couldn't find folders in my colors, but I found these cute polka dot folders that they can use over and over for anything (of course I have to be practical)

So tadaa a sampling of my newsletters and folders. Enjoy ladies!