Timeline (or "I've been lazy/broke")

So, nothing super exciting to post on the wedding front today/this week.  BM NZ will be trying on BM dresses soon (maybe next weekend) and I am super excited to see her pictures!  But nothing much is going on here.  I still have sewing to do, I have brooches to make, and I have coffee filter roses to attempt to create.  But I don't feel like sewing, and our budget is pretty tight this month, so I am waiting till March to hit Michaels (with coupons!) to buy the necessary wiring to make items #2 and 3 on the list.  Mr. Rocks is tasked with making our STD's (hehe), but we have a whiles till they need to go out.

But, one of the things we need to start figuring out is photographers.  And before we can start getting quotes, we need to know how long we will need the photographer, so we need to figure out a timeline for the wedding.  A timeline that everyone will be OK with.  Here is what I have come up with so far....

2 - 3PM - Ceremony
3 - 5PM - "free time" back at the hotel
5PM - Start of cocktail hour/first dances
6PM - Start dinner
7 - 10PM Dancing!!
10PM - "Official Reception" ends, casual after-party at the hotel bar/pool

Now here comes the annoying bits.....
Annoying bit #1: The park won't guarantee parking after 10AM.  There is no way the Rock Huggers, who are NOT morning people, are getting married in the AM.....but hold on, there is...

Annoying bit #2: The hotel is not next to the reception cite (in truth, it is not that far away, but "far enough")  And they are crazy strict about DD down there, and we really don't want out guests driniking and driving anyways.

Combine Annoying bits 1 and 2, and we have decided to rent a Rock-Mobile.  (Well, just a bus, really).  Now here is the good, the bad, and the ugly.  First, the good: We can rent a Rock-Mobile and stay in our budget.  Now, the ugly: we are expecting ~90-100 people  Busses generally fit ~50 people.  We cannot afford 2 busses!  Now, the "bad": Everything (the hotel, Bahia Honda, and the Key Colony Inn) are relatively close to each other (no more than 15 min apart), so the bus can make multiple trips to a location.  Its good, because it can save us a ton of money, but bad because some people will have to hang out and wait for the rest of the guests to arrive.

Now, if we use a RockMobile for guest transport, here is how the schedule plays out.....

1:15PM - Bus leaves hotel with 1st set of guests
1:30PM - 1st set of guests gets to Bahia Honda and wanders around a bit
1:45PM - Bus picks up 2nd set of guests
2:00PM - 2nd set of guests arrive at Bahia, everyone else gathers
2:15PM - Ceremony starts
2:45PM (ish) - Ceremony ends
3:00 PM - Bus takes 1st crew of guests back to the hotel
3:30PM - bus takes 2nd crew of guests back to hotel
Jenn and Mike stay at Park for pictures (and family, BMs, GMs??) (How do they all get back, then?)
4:45PM - bus leaves from hotel to take 1st crew of guests to KCI (5 min away)
4:55PM - bus leaves from hotel to take 2nd crew of guests to KCI
5:00PM - the booze starts to flow!
9:00PM - bus is available to take home anyone that wants to leave early (hopefully no one)
10:00PM - bus takes 1st crew of folk back to the hotel
10:10 PM - bus takes 2nd crew and Jenn and Mike back to hotel

So how does this timeline sound?  Too crazy?

It is "official"

We have spent the first of our "wedding money" today... we sent in a check to reserve the pedestrian bridge at Bahia Honda!  So, once they get the check, the bridge is ours for our day!  Woo Hoo!

And now, for a little location lust..... you can see this tiny lil' island from the bridge.  Where we will be getting MARRIED!  YEEEAAAAHHHH!  (I'm a little excited!)

(Photo by me)

That is all.

Bridesmaids Dresses!!!!!

OK, so, it is TIME.  Time to start looking at BM dresses!  So, I have been looking at dresses on the Alfred Angelo's website.  While we don't have to go with Alfred Angelos, it just makes life easier.  There is an Alfred Angelos in Lancaster and NZ, so if we decide to go with an AA dress, all of us, including BM NZ, can buy the dress in country.  BUT, if anyone finds a pretty dress elsewhere, we can work with it!

So, they don't publish prices on the AA website...bummer.  BUT, they do publish pricing guides...the most expensive dresses are 5 stars, and the cheapest are 1 star.  So, I have found several dresses in a variety of price ranges.  Now, without further adieu, here are some BM dresses.... (note: all dresses are in the colors that I like).

Here is the "5-star" (read- most expensive) BM dresse.

Style 6334

Here are the "4 Star" dresses.  We looked at one of these babies last summer, and it was ~$180, so that can serve as a super unreliable price-point....

Style 7140

 Style 7076

 Style 7017

 Style 6133

And here are the 3-star dresses....

Style 7167

 Style 7121

 Style 7092

 Style 7014

 Style 7016

And finally, the cheapest dress (the 1-star dress)....

Style 7139

So what do you guys think?  BM NZ will be near the AA in a few weeks, so it would be great if she had a few styles to try on and see how they look.  I am planning on getting together with the rest of the BM's in May to start trying on dresses.

So, lets have everyone pick their 3 favorite and post in the comments.  We don't all have to agree...remember...there is always option #3 (see previous post).

**All photos are from the Alfred Angelos website.

I have no (absolutely 0) fashion sense!

Which is unfortunate!  Mom Rocks only had enough fashion sense to pass down to 1 daughter, and unfortunately, it all went to MOH Rocks.  (Sorry BM Lil Dude...you are just as bad as me!)  But it is all good, because where I lack in fashion sense, I more than make up for in friends (YOU!!) who are kind enough to keep me from looking like an idiot on really important occasions (like my wedding).  Case in point...I really thought it would be a good idea to wear  a pair of brand new Chacos under my wedding dress.  (I might still feel this way...)  But MOH and BM NZ and BM NZ's mum and several other folks have all assured me that would be a bad idea.

(Someone else in Chacos and a wedding dress.  From Spicetart.com)

See?  They work?  Right? Kinda hip, alternative?  No?  That would be good for a woodsy wedding but not the beachy wedding I am planning?  OK, OK, I trust you guys!!

I bring this up because several players in this grand party I am planning have brought up clothing in the past few weeks, so it is time I start to seriously thing about what we are going to wear.  Now, keep in mind I'd rather NOT think about this yet for the mere fact that I still have weight to lose before the wedding.  I would like to lose ~60 lbs before our wedding.  And I know some of the players are also planning on losing weight too.  (Not that I think any of you need to lose weight - I think you all look beautiful!!)  But lets face it, we just got through the holidays, and BM NZ and I recently finished our PhDs (a process that pretty much guarantees you gain at least 20 lbs), and BM Artista is the in process of becoming a certified shrink (again, another annoying, stressful process).  

But that is OK...we all have time to lose weight....the wedding is in June 2012.  So, it can happen.  I am planning on wearing Mom Rocks wedding dress....she was ~60 lbs lighter than I am right now when she got married (and a few inches shorter).  I can't change my height, but I can change my weight.  So, I don't want to take her dress to the seamstress to start slicing and dicing until I am closer to my weight goal...hopefully in September/October  Likewise, with the BM dresses, the dresses don't need to be ordered until later this year (I am thinking October-ish).  So, my point is, don't panic...yet.  We have time before we have to order the dresses.

Nonetheless, it is time to start thinking about the clothing.  For now, I am going to ignore the men, because the guys will wear pretty much whatever we tell them to wear.  So, I think it will be easier to figure out the girls first and then go back to the guys.  But, for a point of reference, the guys will be wearing khaki pants and a hawaiian/linen/guayabera shirt.  Probably patterned.  We just need to figure out if they will be wearing single colors/two-toned colors/multi-colors.  

But what will the girls wear?  I figure, we really have a few options here.  The first is to wear bright pink dresses, like the one BM Artista is modeling here in 198-something....

(Photo by BM Artista)

I mean, really, I was all set on this one!!  This totally fits in with the tropical theme of the wedding!!  (Kidding!  Sorry BM Artista, this was just too awesome to not pass on!!).

But on that note, the first option is just to re-use dresses we already have.  I want the dresses to be "blue" but I know MOH has like, a billion blue BM dresses.  So everyone gets a used dress, altered it to fit herself, and voila!  we all have cheap, and green (read: re-used) BM dresses.  The plus side is that this would be a greener option, and (more importantly) a cheaper option than buying a new dress

Option #2.... All BM's will buy a new dress and wear the same dress.  More expensive than option #1, but everyone would match.  And everyone would feel all sparkly and shiny in their new dresses.  When I was a BM, I enjoyed wearing a pretty new dress, and I have a feeling some of you might feel the same way (about wearing a spankin' new dress).  This is the "traditional" dress code for BM's...

 (Photo from fashion-dress-celeb.blogspot.com) 

Option #3 is having the BMs chose their own dress style, but all wear the same color....like this...

(Photo from wedding18idea.com)

I really like option #3 because it means that everyone can pick out a dress that fits their body type best.  Because out of my 5 BMs, y'all have totally different body types!  I also like the idea of everyone being the same color...it still brings that idea of solidarity to the BM crowd.

(By the way, the color of the dresses in that last photo is the color I am going for...marine blue dresses, but with bright orange boquets).

What do you guys think?  Really, I am open to suggestions!  If there is an "option #4" that I am have not thought of, please let me know!

Happy Valentines Day!

Hi Everyone!  So, we have not done so much in the wedding planning arena of our lives for the past few days.... (I have totally ignored the sewing.  I know, I know, I need to get a move on!)  BUT, that is OK.  We have time.  That is the nice thing about taking 2+ years to actually get married.  I don't need to feel stressed about what I have yet to do.  The goal is to have much done early, but we all know how well I tend to complete my "to-do" lists.

So, we have not done a whole lot on the wedding front because Mr. Rocks and I were celebrating Valentine's Day!  I won't go into the sappy details, but Mr. Rocks did good!  I really am very lucky to be marrying such a wonderful guy!  And he got me a stuffed baby manatee.  Who doesn't love a stuffed baby manatee?

(Photo by me)

Although we have not done a whole lot of planning per se, we have done little things...we practiced dancing to our song (and we need a LOT more practicing if we are going to do anything besides the middle-school sway!), we are going to start sanding our wood (for our center pieces), and I looked up cake bakers in Key West.  "What?!?" you may be thinking, "I though you guys were going to go with Publix Bakery in Marathon."  And we will most likely go with Publix, but I figured it can't hurt to have a free cake tasting and see what other baker's prices are.  Really, its just about getting the free cake.  And I started looking at bridesmaids dresses again.  There will be a post in the near future that is just about BM dresses - so stay tuned to give me your opinions!  

So, there is more to come!  But for now, I think I am just going to go eat a piece of chocolate :).  If you can make it down here, I will be happy to share!
 

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

And it is official....

We are having our reception at the Key Colony Inn!  I heard back from BM NZ, and we are going with our original wedding date!  (Note, since this is technically a public blog, I am not posting the date here - I don't want any crazy internet people stalking me!  If you don't know our original date, just email me!)
So, lets take a look at the KCI again....

Source: Key Colony Inn

Source: Me

We are so excited!  Both Mr. Rocks and I think this is the best choice for us.  We really like the big, open room, and we like their coordinator - he has been very helpful and responsive.  Even though we are not on the water, we like that KCI is next to a golf course with a lot of green space outside.

So, the top picture (above) shows the linens we will use for the reception, but we provide the center pieces.  Right now I am leaning towards the idea of using a slice of a tree trunk with candles and 1 bright flower in the middle.  But I have time to change my mind a bazillion times.

So, we decided to have a cocktail hour with bacon-wrapped scallops, bacon-wrapped dates, conch fritters, and a cheese/fruit platter.  Dinner will be bread, salad, a chicken dish, a fish dish (probably fresh mahi-mahi) pasta, veggies, and potatoes.  Oh, and we will have an open bar.  Oh yeah, there will be drinking!

So, we booked our venue/caterer.  Check.  We got the ceremony site.  Check.  Now the next step is to find a photographer and DJ.  And now Mr. Rocks can start working on our STDs (Save the dates!).  Woo-hoo!

Really, Mr. Rocks?

So, first, before I get into the thick of this post, a BIG HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to BM NZ!  She also celebrated another trip around the sun a few weeks ago, so, sorry, a little late (as is her gift!) but I hope you continue to enjoy your newly minted age!  :)

Now, onto other things.....Mr. Rocks showed me this shirt last night, saying how great would it be if (at least) one of his best men wore this at our wedding....

(Soure: ShopStarWars.com)

So.....umm, what do you think?  By the way, in case you can't tell, yes, that IS Darth Vaders head inside the palm branches!

Hair...long beautiful hair....

Man, I wish I had long beautiful hair! (Then maybe you should stop shaving your head, Rock Hugger!)  So, my hair, right now, is shoulder length.  I am hoping it gets a bit longer in the next 1.5 years!  Why?  Because I want to wear a wreath of flowers in my hair on the big day!  Something like this...

(Source is shoponline2011.com)

OK, kidding!  No, I really don't want that look.  It is a bit ridiculous.  But I was thinking something more like this....

(From ETSY seller AmoreBride37)

Also, I don't really think I want my hair down.  First, it is going to be H.O.T. in the Keys in June.  I can see my hair getting sweaty and going limp before I even make it to the aisle.  So, I really wanted an updo.  Maybe something like this....but with smallish-ish flowers where the beads are.

(Source is experskincar.blogspot.com)

Or something like this.  I think this chick has short hair. but I think I could pull this off with a bun or french twist.

(Source is snippetandink.com)

The thing is, I do want to wear a veil, and I am having trouble finding pictures of a bride wearing a wreath of flowers with a veil.  (I don't want it to look weird).  What do you guys think?  If you ever come across any cool photos, send 'em my way!

And, just to leave you with a crazy hippy hair-wreath (and I know I can't pull this off!)...but I really like the big, tropical flowers in her hair!

(Source is shoponline2011.com)

Have a good weekend everyone!  Gooooo Steelers!

Yummy Cakes....or....I really should not Blog at Work!

But I am going to anyways!  This is just a quicky on cakes.  We don't really know what we are going to do with the cake.  Other than knowing we would like to cut our cake and have the option of smearing each other with frosting (yep, super mature!)   One option is to do a normal 2-layer round cake with a beach-y theme.  Then we thought, wouldn't it be neat if we can incorporate the bridge in our cake?  So, onto cake idea #2.... have 2 small round cakes...each decorated in a tree/island sort of way, and a bridge between the two cakes?  And we would put our cake topper on the bridge itself.  Aaaannd, for our cake topper, we would like little figurines of ourselves on our Harleys.  So we would essentially be riding across the bridge on our bikes - cute, huh?

So, I just put in an Alchemy request on ETSY to see what the crafty folk can do as far as creating the cake topper.  We shall see.  But, whilst on Etsy. I came across THIS:

It is an edible butterfly from Etsy seller SugarRobot.  How cool is that?  Originally, we were thinking about just having a sheet cake (in addition to our display cake) hiding out in the back kitchen- it is cheaper than getting a huge-ass wedding cake.  But, what if we did the small (ish) wedding cake (can serve 30) and 70-80 cupcakes?  With edible, super pretty butterflies?  We (well, Mr. Rocks) could make a cupcake tower, and we could display the cupcakes next to the cake.  And we could get a variety of flavors, which would be a good thing.

These butterflies are ~$9 for 12, so (quickly doing the math here), if we got 7 doz butterflies, that would be 84 butterflies and would cost $63.  7 dozen cupcakes would cost us $70.  So, the butterfly + cupcake expense would be $133.  However, that would be to feed 84 people.  If we cut that down to feed 72 people, the total cost would be $114.  Just to compare, a full sheet cake (just plain) would feed 80 people and cost us $75.  So, not too shabby....not much of a price bump for a much prettier cake "slice" I think.

What do you think of giving everyone a pretty cupcake instead of a piece of sheet cake?  If you went to a wedding and got a cupcake rather than a slice of cake, how would you feel?