Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Purple wedding details

Well. Today is October 1, which means that it is exactly one month until the wedding. Since our wedding is on the first day of November, we won't have that moment where it becomes our wedding month until it is our actual wedding day, so for us, October is it. This is our month. Surprisingly, my calmness remains. I am starting to think that maybe all that early organization paid off. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and the stereotypical bridal freakout to begin, but as the wedding gets closer, the less time there is for me to turn into a huge ball of stress. Of course, perhaps things will start going wrong at the last minute and it'll happen. But for now: I am zen.

The wedding being a month away means: Details! I have been working on a lot of them over the past week, with pretty great results. We have only a couple outstanding RSVPs, and we have worked out a pretty solid seating plan. The seating actually seems to be working out fabulously--friend groups fit nicely at tables, and there are groups of people who don't know each other but who we think will get along fabulously. I have been working on a tentative version of the seating plan for months, discussing with Torsten, my mother, and various friends who would get along, painstakingly moving people around, making sure there aren't any rifts I'm unaware of, etc. We aren't going as far as assigning specific places at the tables, but we are assigning tables to try to make sure that everyone has a good group of people to chat with while they eat.

And that means: Escort cards! Table name cards! Menu cards! Programs! And most of those are done. I was torn about how to do the cards, since they wouldn't fit in our printer, and finally decided that I was overthinking it and that there was nothing wrong with just stamping the table names on the cards and leaving it at that. So I bought a set of alphabet stamps and a purple inkpad and set to work. And while I was buying stamps, I found a "You are seated at" stamp that was just PERFECT for the escort cards. So: problem solved.

Also, the table names are set, thanks in part to your input: there are nine tables, and they will be named Purple, Violet, Lavender, Lilac, Plum, Amethyst, Grape, Aubergine, and Indigo. Or, if you'd like to see for yourselves:


I wasn't totally sure that I'd like the stamp thing, but in fact I think it's perfect. I love the slightly imperfect, homemade feel. Our wedding isn't being put together by a professional planner; in fact, we are doing pretty much everything ourselves, and there is nothing wrong with people being able to tell. So, homemade cards it is, warts and all.

For the escort cards, I used the "You are seated at" stamp along with die-cut silver stars to spice things up a bit. Since these photos were taken, each card has been filled out with the appropriate table name and inserted into a matching, business card-sized, dark purple envelope with the guest's name written in purple on an ivory dot. The whole thing (except the star) matches our invitations.




I used the stamps plus a purple pen to make the instructional sign for the guestbook. I plan to use the same approach for the menu cards: 1 per table (it's a buffet so it's just for informational purposes), each stamped with the word "menu" and then with the actual menu handwritten below it. My apologies for the blurry photo.


And I used the stamps to make a "Relief for Tired Feet" sign to go on the flip-flop bucket. If I'd bought the stamps earlier, I'd have used them to make the size tags for the shoes themselves, but I made those with a purple Sharpie before I had the stamps. Also, further evidence of my OCD-ness: I twisted the ribbon holding the size tags as I was tying it so that both loops of the bow had the shiny side of the ribbon facing out. I'm aware that nobody will notice. But isn't that what this blog is for? Proclaiming left and right about ridiculous details that nobody cares about?


The programs are laid out in InDesign and ready to be printed, pending a couple of final ceremony details that need to be added. The purple paper for printing them on has been purchased. The thank-you tags are also ready to be printed and then tied on to the favors with the remaining ribbon. And then the final DIY detail will be creating some sort of purple card box for the gift table.

And then--I'm almost afraid to say it--the details will be done. All that will be left will be logistical details, timelines and final song choices and making sure that everything gets delivered to the right place at the right time. And writing a lot of checks. And then the whole part where we actually get married. Which is pretty much the best part. Although all of the little purple details are a close second. Perhaps all this purple is what's making me so calm.

47 comments:

  1. I love it all!!! Your handwriting on the size cards is so nice - just as great as a stamp =)

    I'm so excited for the two of you ~ Happy Wedding Month!

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  2. Way to go making instructions for your guest book. We intended to do the same thing with our guest book, but apparently were not clear enough with our guest book attendant. We have photos, and each page has a name written on it. No message. Sigh.

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  3. It is sort of a shame that you don't get to look at a calendar page all month with "Our Wedding!" written on one square of it. Maybe you should flip your calendar to November right now just for fun. :-)

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  4. OMG~

    I love the flip flop bucket. I actually WORE flip flops my entire wedding, even down the aisle ...

    I also love the You are Seated stamp. It's a great font ...

    and I WISH WISH WISH I had done your guestbook. How perfect. I had a sign printed and people just signed it with a Sharpie. We're getting it framed ... I wish more people had signed it. For some reason, a lot didn't ...

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  5. i love the flip flop bucket.....if i ever get married i'm going to steal that idea

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  6. I love this! I love the stamps, the flip flops, and your zen-ness. Everything is so great! I can't believe it's a month away. :)

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  7. You sound very zen, the stamps came out lovely.

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  8. All of it is so CUTE! I think the guests are going to appreciate your personal touches on everything, that's what makes it special!

    LOVE the flip-flops!

    Purple....Sssqqqqeeeeeeee!

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  9. All of your details look super classy and pretty. I love the purple-y table names!

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  10. It's going to be fabulous!!! I love all the details! One month!! YAY!

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  11. I love the flip-flops idea!! All just so cute and perfect!

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  12. The details look great. I love the slightly imperfect look of the stamping repeated throughout lots of little details. Genius!

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  13. Everything is SO pretty. Good work, you!

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  14. Everything looks amazing! I love the instructions for the Guest Book, thats such a neat idea. Also loving the flip flop bucket. Your weddingis going to ROCK! Its so close!

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  15. You are way ahead of the game. I just finished our programs the other day and our wedding is weeks before yours! So glad it's all been relatively hassle free. Yay!

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  16. LOVE the idea of a flip flop bucket for tired feet!!! And the guestbook- taking pics and signing? Brilliant!

    Happy Wedding Month!

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  17. You've thought of everything. I LOVE the guestbook idea!

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  18. Dude, I'm telling you, if you see a redheaded girl lurking at your reception, pay no attention.

    Love all your details. You are SO creative and talented.

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  19. the flip flops idea is so cute!!!

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  20. You have done such a wonderful job and I love all the personal touches! It all looks fabulous Jess and I can't wait to see pictures from your wedding!

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  21. Oh wow I love it ALL. So gorgeous!! You have done such an amazing job, I have no doubt this wedding will be stunning. And the flipflops? FABULOUS idea!!!!

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  22. This is so fun. I love the "You are seated at" stamp. I twist ribbon, too, so the loops will match!

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  23. EEEEEEE!!!!!! EEEEEEE!!!! It's almost here!!!!!!

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  24. happy wedding month!!

    i love the "you are seated at" cards. the silver star = PERFECT pizazz touch.

    so now that i know your sister claims to be the first / bigger purple fan: was her wedding this purple?? :-)

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  25. Oh, you have so much more energy than I! i would come up with ideas and totally flake on them. I wish I had put more effort in like you are!

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  26. I love your homemade look because it's well done, and not cheesey. :) It all looks great! And I love the flip flops idea, my friend was going to do it at her wedding, and if mine is during a warm month, I'm definitely doing that too. :)

    So excited for you!

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  27. You are so awesome. I love the stamps!

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  28. Coming out of blog reader hiding to say "Happy Wedding Month"!!!
    Love the flipflops and all the stamping. I went to a wedding recently that had one of those photo booth deals where guest could go in together or with the bride/groom and that was the memory they took home with them. It was pretty cool. Each photo had the wedding date/name..etc.

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  29. I love, LOVE the idea of flip-flops for tired feet. Such a great idea.

    So much purple. Love it!

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  30. Oh, these are such great details! I love them, Jess. :)

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  31. Yay I love it all! Happy wedding month! Glad we can share most of it :)

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  32. It's amazing how excited I can be about somebodys wedding I've never met! So excited!

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  33. You are so cute and coordinated. Everything you have made looks fantastic and is really clever. I wish I had some of your artistic skills because I am not that good!

    I know how you are feeling, and time will fly by! Let the countdown begin! =)

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  34. Aubergine is my very favorite word. :)

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  35. You are so organized and un-stressed! I admire that. I love the flip flop idea and will be stealing it for my own wedding, thank you for that.
    Also loving the guestook idea!

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  36. I TOTALLY forgot about the flip flops! Now I can't wait for the wedding EVEN MORE.

    :)
    xoxox

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  37. Everything looks fantastic! Nice job =)

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  38. I adore the table name idea! Everything is gorgeous. Good for you for being so calm as the big day approaches!

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  39. oh jess...your wedding is going to be amazing...so much thought into every detail...cant wait to see pics of it!

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  40. wow, jess, you've thought of everything!! i love it all...it's the small things that count =)

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  41. So cute! And I totally do that thing with bows too, where the shiny side is out.

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  42. Everything looks so nice. Happy Wedding Month.

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  43. Great job on the stamping! I can't believe your wedding is only two Saturdays away!

    And WHERE did you get those flip flops? You did a great job labeling and displaying them. If I were a guest I'd be so happy that you'd taken the time to label them all so I didn't have to sort through them and try and read tiny numbers on the bottom of the shoes. :)

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  44. the flip flop idea is GENIUS!!! i've never seen it before, but i would bet my last two cents that you will get several "thank yous!" for that bucket!

    good luck on your wedding! your details are amazing, your makeup looks GORGEOUS (love the lip color), and you two seem very in love! from a (sometimes bitter) single girl, i really do wish you the best! your love letter almost (see? bitter) made me cry. you actually got a little tear at the corner of my eye. :)

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