Dreaming Down the Aisle

DIY Centerpiece Ideas

2010-08-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

So I have been playing around with DIY centerpieces for a while and I think I know what I'm going to do...here's what I've come up with so far. World Market sells these lanterns that are nice and big- you can fit three candles inside and they are so cute! Here's what I was thinking of:

I was thinking of placing a few grey river rocks around the lantern with either tulips in a vase like above or a few more candles. I grabbed the rocks from a place down the road to try out the idea of placing rocks around the lantern, here's how it turned out:

I like it- of course I'd replace those rocks with smooth ones like these:

I think it will turn out well. :)
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Venue Search Continues: Morgan Creek Golf Club

2010-08-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

I went to the Morgan Creek Golf Club today. And I think I may have found the venue! I took some pictures so you guys can see and so I can show my FH later tonight. But I am so excited. I loved Trinity, the sales rep, and the venue. Here's some pictures:

This is the ceremony site. Notice the pond in the background...it has duckies. :)

This is the inside of the reception area. Those gorgeous drapes and chandeliers are there permanently so you save on the decorations. You get to chose from a bunch of colors for the linens with no extra charge and the carpet design isn't that bad either.

A close up of the chandelier. I love it!

So now all I have left to do to finalize this venue, is get my FH there to see it. He's been busy with work and biking up in Tahoe so hopefully later this week I can lure him away. :) Oh and next Tuesday we get to go and try some of the food. Yum!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

I'm so excited!

2010-07-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday night I had dinner with my wonderful sister-in-law to be and her hubby. The best part? She agreed to be my matron on honor! I'm so very happy. Her husband and her both know a ton about planning a wedding, they just got married three years ago themselves, and her hubby is now a wedding DJ so they know about most of the places we're looking at. I love getting all this first hand info! Her hubby recommended one venue that we had already looked at, The Ridge, in Auburn. He said that Ruby, the wedding coordinator there, is just the greatest.

He also recommended the Morgan Creek Golf Club in Roseville. I'll be headed out there this week to check it out.

I feel so much less stressed now that I have my wonderful, talented sister-in-law as my Matron of Honor! We share similar taste and I know she'll take care of me. It was so great to see how excited she was too!

Now I'm excited to start planning!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

For the Boys

2010-07-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about what I can do for our groomsmen and today, I discovered the term geekery. Aparently its this whole section of fashion based on geeky things- I LOVE it! In terms of cuff links, I found these adorable sets in Etsy and now I think I might just be obsessed! :)

I might just have to get these to see the look on my fiance's face when he opens the box. Hehe. Be sure to click on the pics to be sent to the page where you can actually buy them. Have fun searching!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Blogger Love

2010-07-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this bride's wedding! In fact, I think I may steal some ideas from her. :) Here's some photos from her wedding:

Oh I just love it! See all of Bride On Purpose's wedding here.
Happy Thursday Everyone!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

I've got more than one!

2010-07-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

If any of you are interested in following me around, I started a second blog for myself. I will continue planning my wedding but will also be posting new recipes and things I like to bake. Should be lots of fun, so be sure to check it out!

Crayons to Cupcakes

Wedding trends to dream about...

2010-07-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

There have been a few trends that seem to keep popping up as I look in bridal magazines or on bridal websites that I just love! So of course I had to share them with all of you. :) P.S. I got all the photos from the Knot.

1. I love the idea of honoring all the married or even engaged couples in a unique way at your wedding. I love how this wedding made the pictures into a gorgeous backdrop.

2. I love new and unique h'orderve ideas. Not a fan of the classics? Rock some new ideas by serving up you and your fiance's favorite snacks!

3. I also love personalized cakes. You've got personality (and so does your fiance) why not show it off? :)

4. I also love the idea of having a top your own cupcake bar as a desert table. And who doesn't like this little sign? lol

So there are my top four. I will probably try to do something like #1 in our wedding. What are some of your favorite trends right now? Feel free to send me a message or post up a comment.

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Promising Venue Ideas

2010-06-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Ok so today I found two possible venues- which will (I'm pretty sure) fit into our budget and I'm excited about. Here they are:

1.) The River Mill in French Camp, CA

2.) The Japanese Gardens in Micke Grove Park.

I can't wait to go check these out! Has anyone heard of them or seen them in person? By the way, that wedding at the Japanese Garden was gorgeous! Be sure to follow the link attached to the picture and check out that photographer's work!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Boudoir Photography!

2010-05-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

I love sexy yet feminine things, and one thing that I have been considering for quite some time now is whether or not to do a boudoir photo session. If you have never heard of the term (but I'm sure you all have) its basically a photo session with you some awesome lingerie (or nothing at all if you prefer) with great makeup, hair, and a professional photographer. Its sexy yet stylish and elegant. Here's a peek:

There is one photographer, Stacey, who does amazing work with her boudoir photography right here in Sacramneto, and she is holding yet another of her Boudoir Photography Marathons July 16th - 18th.

If anyone is interested please check out her site here. And if any of you have had a boudoir session before, tell me what you think! Was it just a blast?!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

I love him so...

2010-05-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

These past few weeks my FH and I have seemed to grow even closer. I am going through some grown up stuff with my friends (the possibility of them moving away, new boyfriends, etc.) and he has talked with me through all of it. Not just talked, but really listened and cared. He's held me through my sad times, he's joked and reminisced with me. And I must say...I love it! He has made me feel so cared for and special and important, and I am amazed when people tell me that they can't talk to their partner about things.

I am really, truly lucky to have met him and that we were such a perfect match together. May I never forget that. :)

I hope you all are feeling loved and special tonight.
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Link Love

2010-05-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger friend...school, and work, and wedding planning oh my! But I recently met with a client whose daughter is getting married in Hawaii and they are doing all their planning via phone. Thank goodness I'm not, I don't think I could handle it! :) But anywho, I just wanted to show you all a few pics that are inspiring me right now...

For anyone who hasn't heard of these awesome ladies, I am in love with The Wedding Chicks Blog. In fact all these photos below I found on their blog, so be sure to check them out!

I absolutely cannot wait to buy my wedding lingerie! But then again

I have always loved shopping for sexy little under garments. :)

And check out this photo! Wouldn't this be great as a Save the Date?!

Oh and here's an interesting update, although the wedding is still 11 months away- I cannot wait to take my FH's last name! I'm thinking of making myself a new email address to hold myself over. Lol

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #7 Love bird wedding

2010-04-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

(All images came from the Knot)

I just love how cute a bird themed wedding is. And I love it even more with a rustic feel!

Hope everyone's week is going well so far!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Creating my Invitations

2010-04-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

So today was the day I was going to make all my engagement party invitations. Last night I cut the paper, today I got grey stamp ink, and as I went to load the paper into our printer it suddenly hit me...we don't have white ink. Bummer! I already tried the invitations with black ink and here is what it came out like:

(Ignore the smudge marks on the envelope...I dropped a stamp on it. lol)

So you see, the black doesn't look terrible but I think white text against the green would look much better. But anywho, here's the invitation making process so far:

Materials Bought:
10 pieces of 12x12 olive green cardstock paper....$6.90 ($.69 each)
1 9" Fiskars bypass trimmer (as seen below)..........$19.99
4 packs of 12 note cards-only for the envelopes.....$4.00 ($1.00 each)
1 fifty count 8x11 white cardstock paper................$3.99
2 stamps on clearance (as seen below)...................$1.98 ($.99 each)
total cost: $36.86

Why this ended up being a total bargin:
The trimmer I will be using forever more, for things such as gift tags, cards to friends, crafts, etc. The same with the stamps (who doesn't love a cute little owl?). The white pack of cardstock paper I will be using to make my banners, save the dates, stationary. and who knows what else more.

And finally- my best bargain find- The 4 pack of note cards with envelopes came to a total of $4 which totally beat the plain cardstock note card with envelope pack which was $4.75 for a pack of 10. Tadah! I felt great walking out of there with out spending the $50 I originally thought I was going to have to spend.

Now for the creation process:

Step 1: Cut cardstock paper into whatever size you need. (My invitations are 4"x7.5".)

Step 2: Print out whatever text you like onto your cardstock paper. Mine read "It's the little things you do, that truly say "I love you". (cute, huh?) Also print out the text on your small cardstock paper for the insert card (the one you place in the envelope).

Step 3: Using a glue stick, glue your envelope (back side up) onto your card in the designated area.

Step 4: Stamp adorable designs where ever you would like.

Step 5: Apply postage stamp and mail these cuties off!

Send me some pics of what you're working on!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #6 - Elegant in Black and White

2010-04-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

I love how just one photograph can inspire so many things, and this classic photo is definitely one of them.
So elegant and memorable...

Black and white can be very elegant, either mixed with bright accent colors or just by themselves. Either way I love how classy and formal a black and white wedding looks.

Pictures found at: Citizen Hotel, Blue Olive Photography, iDiY, Wedding Paper Divas, Hawaiian Island Wedding Planners, and Russell Martin Photography.

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Finding a Venue

2010-04-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Finding a venue for our ceremony and reception has proven to be the most stressful decision.so far. Because of our limited budget plus my semi-specific vision, I have been looking for almost 2 months (officially) and still haven't found anything promising. I did however come up with a very organized and useful chart that I'd like to share. Trust me it helps to have something you can glance at to remind yourself of important details rather than looking up the websites one at a time. So here we go!

Venues:	Miners Foundry	Centerville Estates
Fri/Sun. Prices:		$4,458*
Sat. Prices:		$4,990*
Distance from RB:	133.87 mi. 2hr 44min	68.48 mi. 1hr 43min
Distance from RC:	55.12 mi. 1hr 13min	109.9 mi. 2hr 09min
Insurance:	Min $500,000 req.
Vendor Limits:
Time Limits:	Whole day	9am-11pm
Parking:	Yes	Yes- Directed.
Set up and Clean up:	$25/hour with a 3 hour min.	Clean Up
Tables and Chairs:	Many options	Yes - wooden
Linens:	At extra cost
Dishes:
Included Décor:	Candelabras, Hurricane Oil Lamps	Umbrellas
Coordinator:	No.
# of Events:	1	1
Max # of Guests:	200 for stone hall
Taxes or Other Fees:
Bathrooms:	Yes	Yes, 3
Dressing Rooms:	Bride	Bride & Groom
Bar:	Available	Indoor & Outdoor
Backup for Rain:		Indoor Space
Misc. Pros:		Electricity outside
Misc. Cons:
Dance Floor:		Indoor & Outdoor
Venue Amenities:	Historic, Stone Walls, Indoor	River, Lawns, Patios
Website:	Minersfoundry.org	Centervilleestate.com

Centerville estates: * possibly less for a small guest list

I was trying to get the chart to fit into your view, but I think it may still cut off a few letters. Usually my chart is about 4 venues wide. I currently have about 4 pages of this plus more info to update and venues to add . You can add or change the rows to whatever is important to you. Oh and in case anyone starts to wonder, RB is where most of our family is located and RC is where we're located.

I cannot wait until we decide on a venue! Things will get so much easier. :) Hope this helps everyone- I know it made things easier for me.

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Free Invitation Templates!

2010-04-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

I just found some wonderful sources through a few of my favorite wedding blogs. The first I found through iDiY and is a blog with free invitation templates. You just download them into word, add your info, and print them out on some great paper. Check out these beauties:

You can find these and more templates at Download and Print. I suggest subscribing to the blog- she's adding new templates almost every day!

The second free template I wanted to share with you I found at The Wedding Chicks. Look at these adorable groomsmen cards!

Love them! You can find and download this template here.

Oh how I love freebies!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Engagement Party Planning

2010-04-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

So my parents are throwing us an engagement party- and even better my mother is letting me help plan! :) The fun part is that it is totally relaxed compared to our wedding so we can do a lot of things that I love that would never had fit in with the wedding. Here's a few of the crafty things we'll be encorporating:

(All pictures found at Martha Stewart)

1. I love those postcard invitations- so we're going to make them using olive greed card stock, off-white envelopes pasted on the front, and then a few awesome stamps I found at Michaels' Craft Store.

2. The potted plants are actually going to be mint and thyme. The mint will have a little tag that reads :"Mint to be". While the thyme will have a tag that reads: "Thyme for a wedding". So adorable, plus if we decide to use them as favors we can do that easily.

3. The cup cake towers will rock all of our deserts and snackies. Of course the colors will be an olive green instead of the blue that the picture shows.

4. Martha says that these tissue paper pompoms are easy to make, so hopefully I can throw a bunch together in varying sizes of white tissue paper and we can hang them from the trees.

5. This sign will be made with the same font and paper as the tags in the mint and thyme. And of course it will read "Just Engaged" instead of "Just Married".

So this week, my to dos for the E-Party are as follows:

1. Set official party date (We're thinking of May 30th)

2. Finilize my guest list to give to my mom. (She'll be adding some friends of hers and anyone else that she'd like to invite who wouldn't be able to be invited to the wedding)

3. Make invitations

4. Attempt a practice run at those tissue paper pompoms

Wow, I'll be busy this week!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Love Notes #2

2010-04-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

(I've never read the book, just liked the title)

I ran across these great quotes today and can't decide if I want to use them for something like invitations or programs, so I thought I'd share some with hopes that they can inspire you as well.

Love is friendship set on fire.

Quote by Jeremy Taylor

Whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same.
Quote by Emily Bronte

At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.
Quote by Plato

Love's sweetest meanings are unspoken; the full heart knows no rhetoric of words.
Quote by Christian Nestell Bovee

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Budget Finds: Thank You Notes

2010-04-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

I got my thank you notes today! I found them in the clearance section at Michael's Craft Store. They were originally $9.99 for 40 cards with coordinating envelopes, and I got them 50% off at $4.99 for 40. So, I picked up 160 and only ended up spending $21. I love finding some good sales!

Take a look:

So what do you think?

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!

My FH always hides easter eggs for me, I love how he helps support my choice to never grow up. :)

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Love Letters Inspiration

2010-04-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

When my FH and I first got together, we wrote a few love letters. What couple hasn't, right? Well today I was thinking of encorporating some of ours in our wedding. I already included quotes in our wedding website, but check out these other Love Letter inspiried wedding details:

You could ask your guests to write you and your husband a love letter instead of using a guest book. I love the idea of using these rustic drawers...

You could display some of your actual love letters for your guests to read. Or you could write letters to your guests and use them as place cards.

So many wonderful ideas, hope you are all having a great Saturday!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Distractions

2010-04-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

With my work rolling out a new software and making me put in extra hours to get used to it, I have had little time this week to just sit back and day dream. But one thing that I am starting to think about - our engagement party! Here's my inspiration at the moment:

(click the photo for the link)

I think it will be help at my parent's house, very cozy and informal. Just a great way for our families and friends to meet each other before the big day. Here's some tips I picked up on ehow.com

The bride's father should always make a toast, regardless of the locale or mood of the party.
Not everyone who is coming to the wedding needs to be invited to the engagement party.
Always splurge on good champagne.
Make sure you have the location booked at least a month in advance so you can concentrate on other details of party planning.
Never invite someone to the engagement party who is not invited to the wedding.
Gifts should not be expected.
Always consider the bride and groom in the planning, for it is essentially a party for them.
Have a great Thursday!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Adorable Save the Date Video Idea!

2010-03-29T16:58:00.001-07:00

Check out what I just found on the Knot:

My Real Wedding from The Knot and The Nest.

Is that not the best?!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

DIY Rustic Wedding Cake Stand

2010-03-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

So I have wanted a rustic feeling wedding since I began planning. Not completely all out rustic, but lots of rustic touches. One idea that I fell in love with was the idea of using a piece of tree stump as a cake stand. Infact the idea came from this photo I found in one of my bridal magazines (I can't remember which one, sorry). Here it is:

Well as I was surfing around on the web today I found some other ideas using wood as your cake or dessert stands! Check out this DIY project on Once Wed!

Follow this link to see the DIY instructions, but isn't that adorable! And because you can change the style and hight so easily you could make a variety of stands for your dessert table. Oh I love it!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Sweet Saturday!

2010-03-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am so happy it is Saturday today! That means a whole new week is about to start tomorrow. And to make it even more of an exciting day, tonight we are telling my parents about our engagement. I'm so excited! I also wanted to share these amazing invitations I found on etsy. Click the picture to go to the page!
Enjoy:

Have a lovely weekend!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Ring shots!

2010-03-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

Since tomorrow is my day off (Sooo needing this one!) I am going to play around with taking my own ring shots My inspiration:

I love that spoon and fork picture! Such a cute idea. Well I'll let you all know how my effort goes, expect some silly stories and terrible photos to follow. Haha
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Adorable Invitations

2010-03-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

I found these cuties on the Brooklyn Bride blog. P.S. It's awesome! Anywho check these out:

I really love that last one. So cute and original! Be sure to check out the original post here, and have a great Monday!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Gorgeous Engagement Photos Continued

2010-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more drool worthy engagement pics:

As always, all the photos are linked back to their source. Have a great weekend guys and gals! I'm off to a Bridal Fair tomorrow and promise to post up some (hopefully) fun pictures!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Music Fun

2010-03-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

So one of the things that my dude and I am excited about- Planning the music for the reception! We can be pretty goofy and some of our music choices will definitely highlight that, such as these awesome classics!:

And my favorite:

Hehe I just can't wait!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Gorgeous Engagement Photos

2010-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a few engagement photos that are really speaking to me. I love the idea of photographs gorgeous enough to be used as art in your home and all of the following photos definately fit in that category. Click on the photo if you'd like to be taken to the photographer's site and be sure to check out their other work!

I love how this first one is so sexy!

Vendor Highlight: A Girl and a Camera Photography

2010-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

My MOH told me to look into this girl and I love her work! Jennifer's a San Fransisco based photographer who has been taking pictures for more than 20 years. She also has had her Cosmetology license for 15 years. Talk about talented! I love her use of natural light and her style is right up my alley! Here are some of her amazing photos:

So please be sure to check out more of her portfolio on her website here.
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Love Notes for Today

2010-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today's post marks the beginning of a new segment. One of the most amazing things about being engaged is simply knowing that you and the one that you care about are preparing to spend the rest of your lives together. In this new segment, Love Notes, I'll be posting about all things related to love, from advice to stories to just about anything that reminds me of love.
Today's post is a love letter from Beethoven.

Good morning, on July 7
Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours

Yep that's the one from the Sex and the City Movie. I love those last three lines, Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours. Those just may be finding their way into my vows..or wedding in some way.

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Adorable DIY Bridesmaid Invitations

2010-03-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here a few wonderful options for a DIY card to help you invite your friends/family into your bridal party.

(Each picture links to it's instruction page.)

Adorable aren't they? I think I might end up using the one from Martha Stewart.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

DIY Flowers: Manzanita Branch Centerpieces

2010-03-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have always loved the look of flowered branch centerpieces, and now someone has finally let us in on the secret of how to make these eye catching beauties.

If you'd like to try this gorgeous look yourself follow this link.

DIY Wine Glass Lampshades

2010-03-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

Check out this adorable project that is easy and pretty quick to make!

Find instructions for this project and the download-able template here. Talk about an easy project that you could do way ahead of time and just save until the day. I'm all for low stress!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

I'm engaged!...now what?

2010-03-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Ok so I'll admit, I am still to excited to actually focus on anything at the moment, but I did manage to put together a little to do list for us to follow.

1. Announce your engagement

Shout it out! Tell family and friends however you would like but be sure to not let the stress get to you. If they start asking about the wedding date and you haven’t set one yet just let them know that you’re really just enjoying being engaged and that they’ll be the first to know when you do decide. Just remember – they’re excited for you and that’s why they’re asking! Even though it may be stressful, just know that they mean the best and be sure to take the time to bask in your new status.

2. Imagine your dream wedding

I know you’ve been thinking about it for a while now, so sit and think how would you want it? Without worrying about budget, guests, or any of the things that come up late have some fun and decide on the theme or feel you will want your wedding to have. Be sure to talk to your fiancé about this, he may have something I mind that you never would have guessed.

3. Get organized

Plan where you’re going to keep all your thoughts, plans, details, and lists. My advice? A giant binder. That way you can easily move it from place to place. But what it is doesn’t matter – it could be a shoe box if you knew exactly where to find things.

4. Set your budget

This is the least fun wedding thing but also the most important. In order to help you from stressing out about the credit card debt you’re piling up on wedding décor – sit down with your FH and whoever else may be contributing and find out exactly what you have to spend on your fairy tale wedding. Then, with your FH, decide on the three most important aspects of your wedding day. Is it the photography, the food, the music, or the décor? This will let you know what things you may want to splurge on and where you can really cut back. For me, I really don’t want a videographer – but photography and the venue is a big deal for me. So I can adjust my budget accordingly. And while it may be a little more work, it is still possible to have the wedding of your dreams while on a budget. You just need to focus on what is important to you and use a little magic dust.

5. Pick a date

This is a little tougher. I’d suggest picking a few dates, like maybe three, that will work for you, your fiancé, and your families. Having multiple dates set aside will help you be able to still get the venue you’d like. That way if it turns out to be booked on one of your days, you always have two more to choose from. Also remember, if you are planning a budgeted wedding, some dates will be less expensive than others. Consider having a wedding in the “off” season where you might find some incredible discounts. Some things to consider, according to the Knot, are the symbolism of your date (what does it mean to you), the season, the price (like I stated above), holidays, VIP preferences (can your family make it?), and any major dates to avoid.
See here for a list of dates to avoid in 2010 and 2011.

6. Make a first draft guest list

My FH and I are paying for almost all of the wedding (if not everything)so technically I didn’t have to invite any of the people our parents wanted, but to me it was important that they each choose a few people who are important to them to have at our wedding. In order to do this while still keeping a handle on our small (50-75 guests) and budgeted ($5000) wedding I asked them to make a “dream list”. They can write everyone down that they would like to invite, I ask them who matters the most to them on this list, and then I drop the ones I don’t know or don’t need to have at the wedding. And voila – I have a manageable guest list where I know and care about mostly everyone invited but our parents still get to have a few of their closest and dearest with them.

7. Find the ceremony and reception venue

Some of you out there will be shocked when you start looking into venues. These things are booking up fast! One place I’ve looked in the past had dates booked for the next 2 years! So as soon as you get the above things figured out I suggest you start looking around and touring some of the places. Also, if budget is an focus for you, remember that the more unique the venue is – it usually costs less.

8. Pick your colors

I actually did this way before we got engaged. But it may be easier to pick the colors after picking the venue. That way you can use the venue in your decorations. Find a ball room with a blue and brown floor? Consider using one of those in your wedding. Decorating will get much easier. (In my case, because I am so set on my colors – I’m actually trying to find a venue that fits my vision.)

9. Pick your attendants

Pick them as soon as you are sure of whom you want to be a part of your day. You will have even more fun planning and searching for things if you have your favorite bridesmaids to do it with!

10. Start looking for vendors

I have a giant binder filled with tons of these guys and soon I will need to go through and start thinning out the herd. Hehe. Better Homes and Gardens suggests finding your photographer, caterer, videographer, and florist at the 10-month mark. Some things to consider when looking for a vendor is your vision of the wedding, the different types of possibilities, for instance photography has photojournalistic, artistic, and traditional (you may want to familiarize yourself with a few key terms before interviewing). And be sure to interview multiple people, other people may click with you more than the first you see.

11. Look for dresses

Better Homes and Gardens suggests starting to looking 7-10 months in advance to allow enough time for ordering and alterations. The Knot also suggests that you study up on your wedding dress 101 before you go, “Learn the lingo before stepping foot in a dress salon. Read up on silhouettes, necklines, trains, and hues that might flatter you. Season will also affect your choice. Getting married in the sweltering summer? Go with lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, linen, or organza. Having a winter wedding? Brocade, faux fur, and velvet fabrics will keep you warm. Satin, shantung, silk, and tulle are perfect year-round.”

12. Book hotel rooms (if needed)

I like the idea of booking out blocks of rooms for your guests and including the hotel options in your save the dates. This way your guests won’t be stressed about having to find a hotel room close enough to the venue.

It's official!

2010-03-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

I'm engaged!!

I had planned to propose on Wednesday night, but when I got home last night I just couldn't wait any longer. I was way too excited and nervous which is a very strange combination of emotions to feel... But the timing was right and everything just seemed to fall into place - that is until the actual proposal. I had something very specific planned out and he wanted to jump ahead in my plan (since of course he had no idea I was planning on asking the big question). But everything turned out perfect and exactly the way we are and I couldn't be happier!

Here's how it went:

Katelyn:
For the past five years I have felt more happiness, love, and passion with you than I have my whole life. You make me feel safe when I am scared. You make me laugh when I'm sad. And you join in my fun when I'm excited. You have been my friend, my partner, my boyfriend, and now I am asking you to be my husband. J, will you marry me?

And he said YES! That one little word, becoming more important that anything. Oh I can't even explain how it feels. If any ladies out there are thinking of proposing I would highly recommend it. It was such an amazing experience. First all the excitement mixed with a TON of nervousness, then actually getting down on your knees and finding your voice so shaky you don't even trust it to come out right. Oh it was amazing. And for the men out there, I have a new respect for you. It's really not as easy as it looks when its something that is this important to you!

I still really can't believe I felt nervous. We have been talking about this wedding and getting engaged and proposing for more than a year now. And I was 90% sure he'd say yes, but I guess it was that small little 10% that had me terrified. But he did and now I can really start planning the wedding of my dreams instead of only dreaming about it.

Yay!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #5 - Grey and Yellow Wedding

2010-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Pictures found at The Knot, Invitation found at Paperbean Design, Dress found at The Wedding Chicks

I love the colors grey and soft yellow together, it just seems like the perfect pair for a fun spring wedding! And even if your colors aren't yellow and grey, you have to admit the and sign hanging in between the groom and bride's chairs is just adorable!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Wedding Scavenger Hunt

2010-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Find these pencils on Etsy!

Here's a great idea to kill time between the ceremony and the reception (maybe while you and the groom are taking your photos) and also to help break the ice with the guests! Hold a wedding scavenger hunt! Have pencils and paper available for the guests, either at the escort card table when they walk in or at their own specific tables, along with a list of quirky things for them to find out about the other guests! Not only will it be fun and end up being a hit, but your guests won't realize it if your photo shoot runs a little longer than you expected.

Here's some fun things you could ask them to find out:

Someone who has an unusual job.

Someone who has been to another country in the last year.

Someone who always knew the bride and groom would get married.

Someone who has a funny story about the bride and groom.

Someone who has red hair.

Someone who has an older sibling.

Someone who was not born in the United States.

Someone who has lived on a farm.

Someone who has ran a marathon in the last year.

Someone who has a birthday in June.

Someone who has a mother named Barbara.

Someone who knew the bride and groom when they first met.

Someone who has went skydiving.

Someone who has known the groom since college.

Someone who has known the bride since elementary school (not including family).

Someone who has been married 30 or more years.

Someone who can juggle.

The possibilities are endless! So have fun and keep dreaming!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #4 - Pretty Pink Peonies

2010-03-07T11:32:00.000-08:00

Pictures found at The Knot and Better Homes and Gardens.

This Pretty Pink Peonies is centered around the peony's soft, delicate look. I just love this flower and not only does it look fantastic, its a pretty versatile flower that happens to smells great as well.Use it with almost any other flower and with just about any other color. They're in season in late May and June but can be found through out the year for a slightly higher price. Check out the different varieties here.

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Yet Another Geektastic Wedding Idea!

2010-03-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

You all know how much I love all things nerdy, geeky, or dorky. And this just made my day! As I was searching around the world wide web I found this wonderfully geeky idea, your own video game invite! The couple Darina and Niko put together an 8-bit video game which their guests must complete to get the invitation at the end. Love it!

So tell me about your unique invitation ideas! Send me an email or just comment bellow. And have a wonderful weekend! Take some time to relax and do something fun with your significant other!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #3 - Mountain Wedding in Yellow

2010-03-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

Driving home today, I saw this gorgeous blue sky peeking over the tops of pine trees and it just seemed like the perfect day for a Mountain Wedding. So I started dreaming about a romantic wedding filled with warm yellows and browns with touches of nature throughout, such as giving some locally made honey out as your favors or using recycled paper for your wedding stationary. The perfect location for this wedding, The Ahwahnee Hotel of Yosemite, CA. Be sure to check out the site for gorgeous pictures of the hotel and the surrounding area.

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

**Pictures found at Yosemite Weddings facebook page and The Knot's Yellow Wedding gallery

I'm back with bridal pics that I love!

2010-03-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

Hello folks! I am back after a long break due to some personal stuff going on in my life, and I cannot wait to get back to sharing all the wonderful wedding things I find for you! So here we go!

And I just love this picture!

Planning Update: Guest Lists and Venue Hunting

2009-07-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, my friend Kiki and I will be going to a few different venues and seeing if anything causes me to become obsessed with one of them. Sounds like fun, right?! I will be sure to post pictures and comments as soon as I can afterwords, but today I wanted to share a few things with you.

First off, I had way too much fun reading Brides.com bridal horoscope or as they like to call it the Bridescope. It was almost completely on with my wedding ideals- even with the couple match up.

"The Sagittarius woman is a complex mix of wild and wise, thoughtful and impulsive. She's an independent, can-do type, always expanding and growing. She loves to learn and may have a teeming bookshelf that reflects her many interests. But don't expect to mistake her for a bookworm. On the outside, she may be wild and lusty (think Britney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith)—or at least her strong personality will be evident. Deep down, though, there's an inner good girl who's capable of lasting monogamy. Just don't use the term "settle down" around her. This freedom-loving sign won't be told what to do! Sagittarius is symbolized by the centaur, the legendary half-human, half-horse that was caught between two natures—his primal desires and his thirst for knowledge. Although the Sagittarius woman can be an animal below her mythological belt, her sign rules wisdom, morals and higher learning. She's often sticking her hoof in her mouth, blurting out tactless-but-truthful comments. But with her deep generosity she'll make it up to you later. It takes a strong man to rein her in, but the one who does will enjoy endless adventures, laughter and all the gifts of her fiery nature. With her direct remarks and ribald humor, she's often "one of the guys" and may be more at home in the company of male friends. Finding—and recognizing—her own femininity will be this tomboyish sign's challenge. Her wisdom and generosity abound when it comes to helping friends and loved ones discover their higher callings. Though she may give "tough love," nobody will champion your greatness like a visionary Sagittarius woman. The surest way to alienate Sagittarius is to try to impose limits on her personal freedom and drown her happy-go-lucky optimism in doubt. If she finds a commitment restrictive, she'll head for the hills. Sometimes a mere whiff of responsibility makes her draw back in fear, and this can be a definite weakness. The lifelong lesson for this sign is to discover how commitment is the beginning of adventure rather than the end. Should she discover this curious paradox, Sagittarius makes an excellent (though at times exhausting) partner and playmate."

Yes I'm impulsive, and optimistic, and excited. (Sagittarius all the way!) It was great. Try it out here.

The second thing - I just got back my wish list from my parents. A list of everyone they would invite if they could and I added in my side of the guests. Let me tell you, it’s stressful! We want to have 75 guests or less, and I'm at 55-60 and that’s without Justin's extended family.I do have his immediate family on there though. That's also after probably 1 hour of cutting down the list and feeling guilty after being cut throat. "How close a friend are they?" is something I had to ask myself a lot.

But some of it was fun. I liked knowing that I now have more than half of the list taken care of, and most of those entries have addresses attached! Can I just mention how much I love Wedding Wire's guest list tool? I will be so prepared when it comes to making out the invitations. Score!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!

Forever Dreaming,

Katelyn

Venue Hunting and Groom's Cakes

2009-07-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

I got a few laughs at these wonderful and creative groom's cakes that I found. I linked each picture to the site I found it on so feel free to check them out!

-For the gamer:

-For the sports fan:

For the Hunter:

For the Handy Man:

The Star Wars Fan:

My favorites are the Super Mario Cake and the first Star Wars Cake. Check out the link for that cake, it has some great close ups! :)

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Favor Ideas and Reception Decor

2009-07-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

Alright so my wedding is sort of a woodsie fairytale theme going with it and I found a few favors that I love and would go perfectly. Check them out!
Here are a few animal themed favors:

And here are a few fairy tale themed favors:

And I found what I want to put behind my FH and my table at the reception!

Oh I love it! And once the wedding is over, I can put it above our bed much like the picture above. How perfect! Currently I'm putting together my vendor checklist. Its a table of the vendors and what they do or do not offer all filled out so I can easily compare. I'll post it once I'm done - Its going to be a huge time saver!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Sometimes he just makes me go aww....

2009-07-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Look what my FH sent me today while I was at work!

I love his little surprises!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Bridal Party - DIY Gift Bags

2009-06-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

So today I threw a little bridal party for my friend KiKi (nickname) who was married exactly one month ago. (Happy One Month!) It was so fun but I wanted to share just how easy (and inexpensive) it is to make your own little gift bag!

What you need:
(1) Brown paper bags (12 for somewhere around $5)
(2) Various stamps and ribbons from Target's one dollar bins.

Then you just stamp in which ever color and which ever design you like, punch two holes on the top of the bag and tie some ribbon through, stuff with tissue paper and gifts and Ta-Daa! You're done!
How cute, the girls loved them. I baked some cupcakes, put out some snacks, and we were ready!

Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Announcing: Bride$hare and free DIY Templates!

2009-06-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

So one amazing blogger , The Broke-Ass Bride, click here to view the blog, has just started another site called Bride$hare. It is such a great idea! Click the image below to visit the site.

Once you create your account, you have access to other brides who can share tips, rate anything from venues to flower types, and offer suggestions or recommendations. Also you can search classifieds to find something to buy or share for your own wedding or sell your own stuff! This site is great, brand new, and everyone should go check it out!

In other news, I am grazing possible venues for something that will fit in my budget. Talk about tiring. :)

Also check out what iDIY has today!
CSA Images has a fantastic Free File Collection which contains the above images and more for those of you looking for something for their invites or table decor. You do need to create an account to get the images but its free, so have fun! I think some of the images actually do cost money - but iDIY has never led me astray before! Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #2: Pride and Prejudice

2009-06-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

With such a romantic story, the idea of this wedding is filled with soft textures and romantic hues. Lots of candles and delicate lines. Soft hair styles and classic yet gorgeous dresses.

I found the bridesmaid dresses here and the bridal gown here. The bottom blue bouquet came from Martha Stewart Weddings and the remaining images came from the Knot.

Did he or Didn't he?

2009-06-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Ugh. So for those of you who don't know as of yet, I am not officially engaged. Meaning that while we do know that we are getting married - he has yet to say those 4 magical words: "Will you marry me?". For the last month or so we have been playfully hopping around the subject where he jokes that we already are (which to me we're not) or that he's asking me right then (which he has yet to do). Last night another playful joking occurred.

I was sharing that rumors or our engagement were once again being spread throughout our home town (they have been since we started dating 4 years ago) and he stated that it was fine since we already were. The conversation went like this:

Me: No we aren't, you haven't asked me."
JN: So then what's your answer?
Me: To what?
JN: The question.
Me: What question?
JN: The question.
Me: You haven't asked me yet. But when you do the answer will be yes.

He starts tickling me (he thinks its hilarious how ticklish I am) and we drop the conversation. Then a few minutes later...

JN: So how does it feel being engaged?
Me: I wouldn't know since you still haven't asked me.
JN: Ok so what's your answer?
Me: Ugh! That doesn't count!

And so on and so on. What a booger, such a tease! He's so adorable and infuriating at the same time and I know he loves being that way. Hehe he makes me laugh but O dislike being stuck in this wedding limbo. Not knowing whether I should start seriously planning or continue just browsing through ideas and finding things I love. So I decided to start-halfway. Which is basically what I've been doing. But now I have brief periods of excitedness, which usually happen late at night which leads to my not sleeping well. Ha! I can't wait to be engaged!

Anyways, here's a problem that has been plaguing me. I can't figure out what song our first dance will be to. I really want our wedding to be full of meaning and I am having trouble coming up with a song that is just perfect. I know he would love it if it could be a classic rock song, so I'm looking through there but if any of you have any hints that would be marvelous!

Possible Ideas:
I Will - The Beatles
Something - The Beatles
Your Song - Elton John
Love Song - 311
Faithfully - Journey

I like them all but nothing is like - "Oh that's perfect!". Well have a great Thursday everyone and please share any ideas! :)

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

My latest obsession: the Knot TV

2009-06-17T11:56:00.001-07:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! I have recently been hooked on the Knot TV On Demand. You can browse through nine different channels including Bridal Beauty, Wedding Style, and Real Weddings. Check out this video of 8 Bold Bridal Looks: FR_8BoldLooks_BO-500x375_2008_11_19

Oh and check this out: Adorable wedding proposal!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Inspiration Board #1 - Spring Wedding in Blue

2009-06-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of using the color blue and blue birds in spring weddings, so I put together a inspiration board in case anyone wanted some ideas!

Blue Bird Invitations and Blue Bird Cake Topper from Etsy.com, All other photos from The Knot

Also, I found a little tidbit of delicious information on the Classic Bride (click here for blog). According to Sarah, if you're shopping on Magnet Street Weddings make sure to click on the two hearts icon under the Safe and Secure section, you will get 30% off your stationary order! But hurry, it only lasts until June 14th (this Sunday).

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

I'm Back! and Dreaming of an Irish Wedding

2009-06-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I just finished my last paper of the quarter so that means no more school for a while! And I have just been dying to get back to sharing some wedding thoughts with you so lets just jump right in! I'm thinking of incorporating a lot of Irish feel in my wedding. Of course we'll be serving Guinness Beer, its my man's favorite, and I'm thinking of using some Bells of Ireland in my floral arrangements. I love those flowers.

I found this adorable Irish proverb:

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and just be my friend.

I'm also currently browsing through some great ideas on a website full of Irish tradition. Click here to check it out! So, do any of you have some traditions you're incorporating on your special day? I'd love to hear some!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Have You Seen This?

2009-04-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

First off, I apologize for not writing in two weeks. I feel so out of it! But any who, on to bigger and better things! First off, here's something that made me giggle:
The above picture was found here, where you can see entries and began voting! Apparently the movie The Proposal is partnering up with MySpace to plan and pay for someone's wedding. Votes will decide who wins, the details, and when it all takes place. The entries are closed but you can still watch the preview for the movie, view the entries, and start voting (on April 24th) for the lucky couple.

Second off, I am in the mood to dream about honeymoons. So where are you going, or where would you love to, and do you and your FH agree? I think mine would like to go to the beach somewhere, I am leaning more towards camping or Ireland. Haha who knows maybe one of you will have something that totally changes my mind! So let me know!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Bridal Fashion Week on The Knot

2009-04-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Yay for Bridal Fashion! The Knot has been posting new pictures from Fall 2009's Bridal Fashion Week all week and I'm going to share some of my favorite lines. Oh and by the way, I got all the photos from The Knot. Click here to see all the fashion show pictures!

Here's the first two dresses by Ines Di Santo: LUXE

Dress number three is by Jennifer Salzman.
I love the idea of this dress, it just feels so girly and French, but it is probably a little too over the top for me to wear. :)

And check out these dresses by Romona Keveza!

So check out that link and tell me some of your favorites! As they keep posting, I'm sure I'll find a few more favorites I'll love to share, so stay tuned!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Contests and Wedding Programs

2009-04-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

First off, did anyone else see the contest on the Martha Wedding page? Its called Perfect Proposals and all you do is upload a picture of you and your fiance, tell the story of your proposal, and if your picked you win a 6 day trip to the Walt Disney World Resort! You can find the link here.

Secondly found on Martha's Wedding page, a great idea that I will be incorporating into my programs. Its called "Which Tree Did You Fall From?" and it is from a Celtic version of astrology. You can download the template here, but I thought I would include the list in the blog so you can see if it fits your personality!
Here's The Date List:

Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 - Beech Tree
Dec 23 to Dec 31 - Apple Tree

And here are the results (in alphabetical order):
APPLE TREE (Love) - of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.

ASH TREE (Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.

BEECH TREE (Creative) - has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)

BIRCH TREE (Inspiration) - vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly,pretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

CEDAR TREE (Confidence) - of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others,self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

CHESTNUT TREE (Honesty) - of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner.

CYPRESS TREE (Faithfulness) - strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgment, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.

ELM TREE (Noble-Minded) - pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, loudest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

FIG TREE (Sensibility) - very strong, a bit self-willed,independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humor, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

FIR TREE (Mysterious) - extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, uncontested lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.

HAZELNUT TREE (Extraordinary) - charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody, and capricious lover, honest, and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.

HORNBEAM TREE (Good Taste) - of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

LIME TREE (Doubt) - accepts what life dishes out in a composed way, hates fighting, stress, and labor, dislikes laziness and idleness, soft and relenting, makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to make them blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.

MAPLE TREE (Independent) - no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

OAK TREE (Brave) - robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

OLIVE TREE (Wisdom) - loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

PINE TREE (Particular) - loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.

POPLAR TREE (Uncertainty) - looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

ROWAN TREE (Sensitivity) - full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

WALNUT TREE (Passion) - unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

WEEPING WILLOW (Melancholy) - beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner

I am the Ash Tree. Its basically dead on. Ha! So what are your results?

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Cakes to Talk About

2009-03-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry about not posting for a few days but I was home visiting some family. Today, however, I am having a major sweet tooth so I thought I'd share some delicious looking cakes that I'm dreaming about tasting. Be sure to post a comment and tell me which one you like best!

First, we'll start with the traditional wedding cakes. I found these four on Martha's website.

These three I found on the Better Homes and Gardens wedding website.

Now of course my budget ($5000) won't allow for most of these gorgeous cakes but I can use them as inspiration and either try to find something smaller that looks similar or try to make it on my own.

Which ones do you like? These seven are my current favorites and I just can't make a decision! Good thing I have lots of time! :)

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

DIY Invitation - Free Template!

2009-03-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

I found this link on Once A Bride's blog and just had to share! Its a free template for some gorgeous invitations for all you out DIY brides out there. Take a look!How gorgeous are those! I'm reminded of my grandmother's plates when I look at these and I love anything with a Victorian feel to it! The design is from Wedding Chicks and it is free to download if you click here.

Click here to see Once A Bride's original post and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Bouquets to love

2009-03-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

So today is Martha Day. I love Martha Stewart and I could spend all day clicking through her website id it were not for everything else that needed to get done. Today I decided to share my love of Martha by showing you a few bouquets that I am absolutely in love with and am currently day dreaming about. All were from her website, which you can get to by clicking here.

I especially love love love the green one in the left column.
Have a great day everyone!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Hurray for Bridesmaids!

2009-03-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Today is bridesmaids appreciation day. Unfortunately it is not yet a national holiday but hey maybe it will catch on. We've all been one and we'll all have one (well probably) so here's a little video about the history and greatness of the Bridesmaid.

I found this on Gerber Daisy Bud's blog on Bridal Buds and just had to share it! Click to see her blog here.

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Champagne Brunch at the Arden Hills Resort and Spa

2009-03-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a gorgeous venue which I had the joy of visiting on Sunday. The Arden Hills Resort and Spa, located in Sacramento California, is absolutely gorgeous. Last weekend they had a champagne brunch which included tours of the location and a fashion show. While there are other areas where you can have your ceremony I am absolutely in love with this villa! Here's the outside.
(By the way, I got the above picture from their website - click here to be linked to it.) The place where the actual wedding would take place was set up for a wedding later that day and I got to take a picture of how wonderful it looked. :)
But the best part about a villa wedding? It includes a night in one of the rooms which overlooks the ceremony site and breakfast the morning of for your wedding party. The rooms are gorgeous and you actually have the opportunity to rent out the whole villa if you wanted a handful of guests to stay with you (weekend wedding anyone?). Here's a picture of the beautiful dining room inside.
Love it! I could day dream about this place all day. If you have any questions feel free to ask in a comment or an email and I will see you all tomorrow!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

DIY Votive Wrap Templates

2009-03-22T09:07:00.001-07:00

So as I was reading all of my favorite blogs today, I came across a fantastic and easy DIY project anyone can use on iDIY.

All you do is choose from the three FREE templates that The Fussy Designer created, print them out on vellum, stretch it around your votive tightly, and secure with double stick tape. How easy is that?! Feel free to click here for the original post!

Here are some of the designs you will find:So get out, be crafty, and have fun!

Oh and PS: Today I am going to an open house in a wonderful venue for the Sacramento area: Arden Hills Resort and Spa. Hopefully I can take lots of pictures, get some factoids, and give you all the information sometime on Monday. But in the mean time, have a great weekend and do something new today. :)

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Awesome Groomsman Gift - Loves it!

2009-03-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

So while the boys are over playing Resident Evil 5 in the living room, I decided to do some bored internet searching. Well ladies it payed off! Check out this awesome DIY craft I found by Mrs Lovebird on the WeddingBee.com!

Not only was this a GREAT way to ask the guys to be the groomsmen, but it would be great even as a simply groomsman gift! Check out the link here for detailed instructions on how to take the Guinness label to the Groomsman label!

Budget Woes

2009-03-20T16:31:00.001-07:00

Alrighty today we will be discussing something that can be a major bummer - MONEY.

When I first started dreaming about my wedding the budget was the last thing on my mind. But that is honestly the first place you should start your planning. Everything effects your budget and, in my case anyways, your budget may actually plan a HUGE role in determining exactly what your wedding will be like, for example it will probably help shape the guest list.

My advice? Start saving NOW! No amount is too little and even if its $20 a month it can still add up in the long run. Also check out all the great articles you can find on the web about setting up a budget, sticking with it, and saving on your wedding costs. The Knot has a ton of great articles and also a budget calculator which tells you approximately what you will be spending where when you put in your desired budget. It is just a guideline though, and remember that because whenever I look at it I get bummed - $400 for the venue? $1,500 for food?!. Luckily I'm crafty so I will be doing a lot of DIY projects and I have time to save up as much as possible.

But in order to help you on your way, I wanted to include some great links and the first is from a blogger whom I love, Plumeria Bud from Bridal Buds. Here's the link for her blog on balancing your budget with what you want: Balancing Budget with Desires | BridalBuds

Also here's some more great links to articles and tools:
1. Planning - Money Saving Strategies (from TheKnot.com)
2. 10 Tips for Discussing Your Wedding Budget (from Rose Bud on Bridal Buds) - this one makes me smile every time!
3. Wedding Budget 101 (from TheKnot.com)
4. Wedding Budget - Little Ways to Save (from TheKnot.com)
And there are many more. Also both TheKnot.com an d WeddingWire.com have budget tools so feel free to play around with those. Good luck!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

New place to find the perfect blog for you

2009-03-20T16:20:00.001-07:00

For a list of blogs which are categorized and easy to find, click here.

By the way, happy first day of spring!

Drool Worthy Wedding Photos

2009-03-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

Today is eye candy day and I have found a few of my favorite couple pictures to share with you, as well as a few tips to getting that perfect shot.

Tip #1: Find a gorgeous backdrop.

Whether its a giant tree or this amazing red wall finding the right backdrop will take your pic from good to great! According to Kathleen Murray from the Knot, "scoping out interesting settings will help create a colorful and playful palette." Just remember that you want it to look real, don't stress if there are kids running around in the background or your husband was looking at your eyes instead of the camera - you want your wedding photos to look like your marriage is real and special, not planned or staged.

Tip #2: Don't look posed.

I love this picture not only because it has a gorgeous back drop but also because it shows some real emotion! She is happy to be married and she's having fun! Your photos should give some insight to your personality. And whether that be goofy and fun or passionate and serious remember to be true to your own style. He he this photo always makes me smile!

Tip #3: Don't stress about the weather.

If its raining, use it! A shot of the bride and groom kissing or cuddling under one umbrella is adorable. Or the above pic, wonder what they're doing back there? :)

Tip #4: Get some privacy.

I love shots where it looks like the bride and groom are in a world of their won. It really makes you feel like they are so focused on one another that the world around them just falls out of the picture. Aww!

And my biggest tip of all:
Tip #5: Have Fun!
Its your special day, you've found the love of your life and now you're celebrating the fact that the two of you were meant to be. Don't bring the day down by stressing too much and enjoy the moment!

Well good luck everyone and hoped you enjoyed these adorable shots!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Charitable Registries

2009-03-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today will probably be a two post day again as there are too many ideas running around in my head. The first and possibly most important is that your wedding registry can actually donate to charities while your guests are purchasing gifts for you that you know you want.

While thinking about what we would give to our guests as favors, I came up with the idea to place a little card on everyone's plate letting them know that we had made a donation in their name to whatever charity (I wanted the ASPCA). This is still a fantastic idea (and please feel free to steal) but I am thrilled to announce yet another way to give back to the community with you wedding!

Websites like I Do Foundation partner with stores to donate a certain percentage of the spending on your registry items to a chosen charity. Awesome, yes? The I Do Foundation has over 60 organizations that you can choose as your charity. I will be picking the National Wildlife Foundation (yay!).

For the I Do Foundation, getting started is really pretty easy. First you register your wedding with them, then they have an online process which helps you register for items at whichever store you chose (they have a list of partner stores). Then you create your wedding registry website using their website and your guests can log on directly and shop away!

While I haven't found any websites which work exactly the same way here are a few that will help you give.
Wedding Channel - this will donate any time someone purchases a gift from their personal website store. They also have an option to register for donations to specific charities.
Just Give - this site will allow you to register for donations to specific charities only.
Changing the Present - this will also allow you to chose a specific charity to donate to as a gift. It can also be used for any gift giving time such as birthdays or Christmas.

Oh and the I Do Foundation also sells favor cards for any of those who would like to give your guests a donation to a chosen charity as their favor! I love this site.

So have fun playing around with these and go give a little!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Alternatives to the Guest Book

2009-03-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

For those who don't know, I am in love with Wedding Wire, and while I was searching the message boards for interesting things I saw one girl asking for ideas for guest book alternatives. After a few minutes I had tons of ideas and thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

#1. The Wish Tree

Not only is this an adorable DIY project but its also a great alternative to the traditional guest book. Your guests sign a note or give some advice and simply hang it on the tree. At the end of the night you can just take the notes off, place them in a box, and either read them all at once or ration them off through out the year to come. And did you know that this is actually a Dutch wedding tradition? Fun factoids like that always make me feel full of wedding conversation starters! :) Now on to the next.

#2. The Wish Jar

Much like the wish tree, your guests write down a little message (or wish) to you and put it in the jar. Easy to transport and fun to read afterward since the guests will know that no one is going to see the note besides you and you will most likely end up with some great thoughts! By the way this picture came from My Dream Wedding.CA Shoppe where you can actually purchase it if you were interested.

#3. The Guest Puzzle
This was such a cute and unique idea I had to include it! For couples that love putting puzzles together this is not only a way to get messages from your guests but also a fun project for later! I found this on MGC Puzzles where you can purchase it (the price varies based on the size and number of pieces).

#4. The Wedding Recipe Cards
I actually saw this in the Bridal Guide magazine back in 2007 and it just stuck with me. There are many Wish Boxes you could chose from but I loved the idea of making it look like a box of cooking recipe cards. I found the following adorable box from Jean M. on her website for only $25.

As you can see there are many alternatives to doing the traditional guest book. Personally I'm torn between the wish tree and the recipe box. Hmm...decisions decisions.

Well hope everyone had a great weekend and got some good ideas from today's blog! And as always if you have any ideas, questions, comments, or funny jokes (I LOVE finding funny thinks in my email) feel free to email me at weddingsbykate.dream@gmail.com

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Adorable and unique!

2009-03-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

I found this on a blog that I have been reading, From Diamonds to Vows. It was the first I had seen anything like it and I fell in love immediately (as is usually my way). Aren't these rock chandeliers adorable!

Now she may not have the time to make them after all, but I just couldn't let them go to waste! Maybe these little beauties can make an impression at your own wedding.

Remember to check out the link below because she even included detailed directions on how to make them. Enjoy!
Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

from diamonds to vows: exhibit b

A nerd's romantic proposal.

2009-03-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

Because I do so love anyone who can be considered a nerd, dork, geek, or goof I LOVED this the second I saw it.

Not only is it adorable and unique, but think of the time it took for him to hack into the game, create the characters using their own personal memories, and still have it blend in with the rest of the game. Now that is what I call thoughtful! Not only did this have me smiling the entire time I even will admit that I caught a tear forming in the corner of my eye.

So to all you boys out there who are worried that your woman won't love your proposal, its the thought and the effort that makes it so romantic.

So share some of your own proposal stories with me! I can just never have enough warm fuzzy thoughts in my day!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn

Hello World!

2009-03-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hello virtual friends! Welcome to my first blog post. I figured I'd start with a little introduction, so here we go!

My name is Katelyn. And while I am not officially engaged, my boyfriend and I have had the discussion and at this moment are "engaged to be engaged". Actually I almost passed into the realm of officially engaged last Christmas but unfortunately my beloved felt that he had ran out of time to do what he had planned. And while I am stuck somewhere in between dating and engaged, I have been bitten by the wedding bug and have become a tad bit obsessed with all things planning related. So in this blog I will mostly be posting interesting wedding ideas, tips, DIY projects, and anything else I can come up with.

As for myself personally, you will find that I am a big kid at heart; a girl in love with fairy tale endings and knights in shining armor. I love holidays, cartoons, pretty things, and nerdy boys. I'm a bit of a dreamer, very competitive, and a little naive. I have a bunny named Austin, a goofy but adorable dog named Boo, and a love for anything goofy and fun.

And of course I love to make new friends so feel free to comment or e-mail and of course stay tuned because you never know when you'll find that perfect idea for your walk down the aisle!

Forever Dreaming,
Katelyn