Waking Gardens and A New Cake!

Good evening Houston Brides and Wedding Junkies

This afternoon I visited one of my favorite gardens in the Houston-area: Mercer Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Over the past eight years, I have seen countless brides and couples taking engagement and wedding gown portraits there. My sisters and I had our own portraits made there in the various gardens and settings they contain.

New life is literally bursting out of every plant- the most beautiful were the saucer magnolias (tulip trees). As my mom and I enjoyed the afternoon, we found the season's first bluebonnets in bloom and walked through the new wall of water display...they are still working on the plants around it but it makes a stunning backdrop for a photo!

I just thought I would share the place with you. (For those of you addicted to exercise, there are miles of safely marked, beautiful trails in and around the arboretum as well!)


Bring on the Cake!
Today when I checked the scroll of blogs I follow, one of the bloggers had posted about beautiful ombre wedding cakes.

I didn't know what ombre was, so I went to check out the pictures. Here's the definition:

Ombre:

shaded or graduated in tone: said of a color

(thanks to http://www.yourdictionary.com/)

Here are her pictures: Postcards and Pretties: {cakes} I loved them!

Once you look at her beautiful pictures, click here to look at my favorite of her featured cake artists: Maggie Austin Cake.

Isn't Spring a beautiful time of year?

Limiting Wedding Gab

Today a couple of my girlfriends and I got together and did something between scrapbooking and organizing with my old wedding magazines.

Those that are older than 5 months (except for about 5 which I cannot bear to tear up) had all the articles and tips and hints torn out of them. The rest of the magazine (all the old ads and pictures of dresses) were tossed.

We had fun reading some of the articles aloud as we slipped them into clear sheet protectors and organized them into categories like "reception" "food" "cake" "flowers" "etiquette" "wedding party attire" "music" "pre and post wedding tips" etc.

Of course, we ran out of sheet protectors half way through. It was a lot of fun going through the different ideas and talking about our own weddings. :) Somedays you just need to relax with the girls and dream!

I read one article about not talking too much about your ceremony with others so that you really "wow" your guests. Another article I read talked about picking one day a week where you promise to not say anything about the wedding and focus on other things in life.

I would use a little bit of both of those. I would definitely set aside the trusted few that you talk, dream, and vent to. You don't want to talk to the town gossip about your wedding and then have everyone expecting something bigger and better when you walk down the aisle or they arrive at the reception site.

For your trusted few...I would definitely set aside times to hang out where the wedding is NOT the topic of conversation...after all, you did have a life before the planning began! :) Surely you can find something to talk about...avoid the weather and your dog...work is a good beginning.

Wedding Planning Timeline

Perhaps some of you are unaware of all the prep-work that goes into a wedding. There are so many things to do that it can seem overwhelming! Lets start with a basic 12 month countdown from http://www.brides.com/ magazine:


12 months before:
-Budget!- scary word, but don't worry- at the bottom of the page I'll give you a couple of links to help!

-What's the big picture? -why are you getting married, what do you want to most remember about that day? What's the style, size and date of your wedding going to be?

-Mail save-the-dates if you like to announce your engagement, especially to guests who live out-of-state.

-Reserve your reception and ceremony venues as soon as you pick a date!- they might be booked so don't send save-the-dates out until you have a definite date set!

-Lastly, and possibly the most fun start shopping for that dress! :) Check magazines, websites, and any bridal store in your area- have fun with it!


10 months before:
-Start hunting your vendors: a caterer, a florist, photographer, DJ/ band- and adjust your budget as they give you estimates- you may choose to pay less for flowers and more for the music...it's up to you as a couple- allow the groom input brides, it's his wedding too! :)

-Select your officiant [and ask about pre-marital counseling if you like!]

-Choose your attendants- this might be really hard. Take your time- I'll post some great articles about this in the future!

-Begin compiling that guest list! The size will determine some costs for you- especially if you plan to feed them and hand out favors!

-Hire a wedding planner, if needed. I reccommend at least one consultation to get an expert's advice on how all your planning is going. It can put your mind at ease! But if you don't have that in your budget, then get this book, girl!:

The Knot Book of Wedding Lists - Books, Mags & Music - The Knot Wedding Shop

8 months before:
-Create a wedding website- you don't have to be a techie, try the link at the bottom of the page!

-Book your caterer, florist, DJ, etc.

-If you are having a custom dress made, now would be the time to order it. Make sure you get everything in writing- style, price, number of fittings, cost of alterations, etc. (If you are buying a dress off the rack and think you'll only need minor alterations, if any, you can wait a few more months to find that dress.)


6 months before:
-Meet with your vendors to plan details (flowers, rentals, menu, playlist, etc.)

-Order the invitations, or start DIYing them!

-Register for gifts- plan several fun outings as a couple to put together your wish list! Dream big!

-Now, I'm a traditionalist and would prefer the groom surprise me with the honeymoon, but whether you two plan it together or he does it alone- now is the time to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and all that fun stuff.

-Reserve any transportation you need from shuttling guests to the ceremony and back, to the getaway car!

-Order the wedding rings

-Shop for bridesmaid outfits- set boundaries and goals before you enter a store or click a mouse!


4 months before:
-Finalize your guest list and give it to your calligrapher

-Schedule the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

-Talk to your fiance' about what he and the guys will wear

-Make sure the bridesmaids have ordered their dresses!


2 months before:
-Mail the invites- don't forget your parents or the bridal party (I know they know all about it, but it's polite- and they'll appreciate it!)

-If you are planning on giving away favors, now is the time to order them or begin making them!

-Do a hair and make-up trial with stylists or start practicing on yourself

-Go over the ceremony details, including the readings and songs you've chosen, with your officiant

-Check your state's requirements for a marriage license!


6 weeks before:
-Print the programs

-Send your wedding announcement to the papers

-Buy gifts for the members of the wedding party

-Write or select your vows; have your officiant approve them


2 weeks before:
-Submit a shot list to the photographer

-Call anyone who hasn't RSVP'd

-Go for your final dress fitting

-Make sure the gift registry still has plenty of options (if necessary, add more!)

-Write the rehearsal dinner speeches; reconfirm the dinner reservation

-Write out the escort and place cards

-Get the marriage license

-Give your official playlist to the DJ and/or band


1 week before:
-Pack for the honeymoon

-Pick up your dress

-Confirm all details with vendors

-Assemble the favors or programs

-Give the ceremony participants their scripts

-Break in your shoes by wearing them around the house

-Submit the final guest count to your caterer


1 day before!
-Assemble the wedding-day tips in envelopes

-Reconfirm all pickup times and locals with your limo and/or shuttle companies

-Get a manicure and pedicure (if you want waxings or facials...do that no fewer than 4 days before the ceremony)

-Hold the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner!

Day Of:
-Allott time for hair and make-up before the photographer arrives

-Put on your dress 30 minutes before picture time

-Eat small, light meals- you might have butterflies in your stomach! :)

-Check the honeymoon-flight status online

-Knock 'em dead!



That is the most basic list for a wedding and you can alter it any way you like. To have a neat paper copy of this, grab a copy of Brides, the magazine, and they will have it within the first 40 pages of every issue!

Links I love:
From starting your wedding website to budgeting it can all be done in one link: http://www.brides.com/myweddingplanner/tools-intro

Another fun budgeting website:
http://www.smartypig.com/

Design and Thoughts

Today I picked a beautiful picture from provenwinners.com to be my background. I LOVE their stuff.

WEDDING TIP- LIVING COLOR

Containers of Color:
Plant up your own floral masterpiece! Save money on floral designs for the wedding and reception venue and have your bridesmaids (or some other friends who want to help) get together for an afternoon and get creative. Visit a local nursery and let a garden expert know what time of year you'll be getting married. They can suggest different plants and colors that will be available and sometimes you can special order plants in advance!

Some nurseries even deliver, so you can choose your materials, have them delivered within the next two weeks, and plant it up!

MATERIALS:
POTTING SOIL
CLAY POTS- buy two or three 6in pots (they are cheap) and break them into pieces that are large enough to arch over the drainage holes in the pots you select. This will keep the dirt in and still let the water out.
POTTERY
PLANTS-
GLOVES
SHOVELS- you'll probably just need a couple of hand trowels

I recommend setting up a long, sturdy folding table, a large bucket to hold the potting soil, and getting cute gloves for your helpers!

If you want to put more than one type of plant in your pot, then I suggest you follow these 3 simple rules:
1- Thriller- pick something tall like a pretty grass or if it's a tiny pot, as simple as a gerber daisy

2-Spiller- this would be some type of trailing plant that comes over the edge of the pot like an ivy, alyssum, some herbs, etc.

3- Frills- this is where you get most of your color- make sure these plants are an inch (or more) taller than your spiller plant, but shorter than your thriller.

For more ideas, visit: http://www.provenwinners.com/ and check out their online catalogues!
Or visit a library and check out some books on container gardening! (You can also head to Barnes & Noble for some coffee and a quick peek into some of the container gardening books they carry.)

A favorite container gardening book: http://www.amazon.com/Container-Gardening-Step-Step-Techniques/dp/1600850804

Lastly, the reason I would make these planted containers is not only to have a relaxing and fun DIY activity, but you can keep a couple of the large ones on your porch or back patio after your honeymoon- or give them to your parents or in-laws (if you are going to do this, you might want to let them know in advance.)
They make great gifts!

Places to go:
For Houston Brides: Cornelius Nursery - They not only have plants and pottery, they also have a gift shop where they create wreaths (get all your wedding decor but the bouquets done in one stop!)

For Dallas Area Brides: Calloways Nursery- Owned by the same company as Cornelius, they unfortunately do not have the gift shop. Still, you can't find more beautiful pottery or plants!

Under Construction

I currently have another full-time job, so finding time to start this up will not be easy, especially as it's a VERY busy time of year! Keep checking back though!