Well, inspite of the valiant efforts of one Z Gallerie employee by the name of Matt, I could not locate one of the apothecary beverage containers. Flexibility is key when planning a wedding, and I am trying to be flexible. I wonder if yoga would help! (I am sure it would for the times of STRESS!!!) I have located similar items on the internet, many of which are back ordered. I, rather we, need to make a decision soon.
I had the opportunity to get about 9 hrs of OT this Saturday. There is a big BT (aka preparedness) exercise in Temecula. But that would have meant more than an hour's drive to the location, and I have to be there at 6! Granted, it would have been a nice chunk of change to use toward the wedding (I want very little debt from this event), but BW has a cake to deliver for another wedding (last one before he does ours). It is easier to use my car. And I am sure there are lots more things I could be doing that are wedding-related. Or not. Last weekend, it was mostly "or not." But I really needed those naps!!! :o)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
It's All About the Details
I am taking a little "time off" (sort of) from the wedding planning. I guess I am taking time off from the running around. This weekend, I have let my fingers do the walking. But instead of the yellow pages, it is the internet. And the phone. But not the Yellow Pages.
I am on a search for beverage dispensers. A particular beverage dispenser... the Z Gallerie Apothecary jar beverage dispenser. I called the Shops at Mission Viejo. They must have been psychic, because they didn't even answer the phone. Then I called the SCP store. They were helpful at least in letting me know they did not have them. Then I called the Dos Lagos store in Corona. Matt (I think that was his name) was WONDERFUL! No, he didn't have any in stock. But at least he told me when they would be back in stock. He said it would be OCTOBER. But the wedding is in September, I lamented. He saw another store that appeared to have 4 in stock. I only need two of them. He located the phone number for me, and EVEN TRIED CALLING THEM!!! That is customer service!
So tomorrow, the quest begins again. If they are out, we will have to decide on Plan B. I wonder if there are any on e-Bay. That would be a good thing.... these dispensers seem to be the "it" item right now. Might be a tidy way to make a profit if someone is desperate. Fortunately, I am not desperate... yet!
I am on a search for beverage dispensers. A particular beverage dispenser... the Z Gallerie Apothecary jar beverage dispenser. I called the Shops at Mission Viejo. They must have been psychic, because they didn't even answer the phone. Then I called the SCP store. They were helpful at least in letting me know they did not have them. Then I called the Dos Lagos store in Corona. Matt (I think that was his name) was WONDERFUL! No, he didn't have any in stock. But at least he told me when they would be back in stock. He said it would be OCTOBER. But the wedding is in September, I lamented. He saw another store that appeared to have 4 in stock. I only need two of them. He located the phone number for me, and EVEN TRIED CALLING THEM!!! That is customer service!
So tomorrow, the quest begins again. If they are out, we will have to decide on Plan B. I wonder if there are any on e-Bay. That would be a good thing.... these dispensers seem to be the "it" item right now. Might be a tidy way to make a profit if someone is desperate. Fortunately, I am not desperate... yet!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Making Progress
Well, tomorrow is the last day of my vacation. Looking back, this has been a rather productive week, even though I still wish I had done more! We picked the florist (no, this is not my bouquet, but these are the colors that will be used for reception flowers!) on Friday, and we finalized the photographer today.
I am so excited about our photographer! We are going with Harvard Photography. I love their artistry, but more important, they are Christian. BW and I want to keep the expenses down, so that's why we are doing as much of the work that we can (like cake and catering). However, photography is probably my biggest splurge. They do a DVD montage of pictures set to music... I already know that will be my favorite!
Well, the invitations are calling to me... they say "address us, address us!" If I want to get them in the mail by next Saturday, I need to heed their call!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Beware the Budget Breakers
After yesterday, I can understand why weddings are so costly, and why it is easy to spend into the 10's of thousands on weddings. First, it is easy to get caught up in the details. The bridal magazines alone can cost a small fortune! :) Then there is always the "keeping up with the Joneses" ... you see an idea that someone else has incorporated into their wedding and you gotta have it!!! It makes it hard to keep the budget in check when faced with all these temptations.
And then there are all the vendors...
We had a floral consultation yesterday. It wasn't our first, and it's not the last (that one is tomorrow). But I can say for certain that it was the most UNBELIEVABLE consultation that I have had to date. I am still shaking my head. This particular florist doesn't have a "store front" to go to, so the consultation might take place at a coffee shop or hotel lobby (unless, of course, they get caught!). But that's OK. The problem I had with this particular vendor is that they specialize in the wedding industry. That translates to inflated prices. Sure, they have got the terminology down ("high end" and "designer"). But, I am sorry. To quote more than 2.5 times what the other florists are charging, and then to tell the bride that she will have to pick up her flowers because the "minimum" was not met is a bit ridiculous. On top of that, there is an additional labor charge. Normally labor is included in the price of the creating the floral arrangement. Like BW said as we left, "That's like a baker telling you that the wedding cake will cost $600, then saying, 'By the way, I am also charging an additional $100 to bake it.'"
There are so many florists out there that do not specialize in weddings, but who do an equally beautiful job with floral design. I feel so sorry for all those brides who are not familiar with sales techniques, such as assuming the sale (or assuming the appointment). They can get so caught up in wanting the most beautiful wedding possible (don't we all?) that they completely blow their budget!
And then there are all the vendors...
We had a floral consultation yesterday. It wasn't our first, and it's not the last (that one is tomorrow). But I can say for certain that it was the most UNBELIEVABLE consultation that I have had to date. I am still shaking my head. This particular florist doesn't have a "store front" to go to, so the consultation might take place at a coffee shop or hotel lobby (unless, of course, they get caught!). But that's OK. The problem I had with this particular vendor is that they specialize in the wedding industry. That translates to inflated prices. Sure, they have got the terminology down ("high end" and "designer"). But, I am sorry. To quote more than 2.5 times what the other florists are charging, and then to tell the bride that she will have to pick up her flowers because the "minimum" was not met is a bit ridiculous. On top of that, there is an additional labor charge. Normally labor is included in the price of the creating the floral arrangement. Like BW said as we left, "That's like a baker telling you that the wedding cake will cost $600, then saying, 'By the way, I am also charging an additional $100 to bake it.'"
There are so many florists out there that do not specialize in weddings, but who do an equally beautiful job with floral design. I feel so sorry for all those brides who are not familiar with sales techniques, such as assuming the sale (or assuming the appointment). They can get so caught up in wanting the most beautiful wedding possible (don't we all?) that they completely blow their budget!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Marathons of a different kind...
I am soooo glad that I am on vacation this week! This weekend was a long one! It began on a low note... a "marathon hunt" for missing ribbon. I must have tore up the house twice, looking for ribbon. It's what I needed for the favors. Forget the fact that it's only 50 cents for 10 yards. I had to find that ribbon. As the moments past without it turning up, I got more and more frustrated with myself. I had it "in it's place," but then I moved it. And now I couldn't find it!
Oh well, I had another marathon to attend to, so I abandoned the ribbon search and just went and bought more. Actually, it turned out to be a good thing, because I added two new colors to the mix. My next marathon was a marathon shopping session. I was meeting my MOH at South Coast Plaza to hit the stores to search for her dress. We planned to meet at Nordie's, because she had a return to make, and I was in search of mascara. Please, no gasps from the Mary Kay world... our waterproof mascara, although it is great, does not give the kind of wedding day lashes that I want. Cindy was tied up by a major traffic accident on the freeway, so I not only got the mascara, but I picked up a few other necessities too (like perfume) and looked at the dresses that Nordies had to offer.
Once Cindy and I connected about 10:30, we were off! For the next 4 hours, we sought out dresses galore! She tried on a TON at Macy's, and then I proceeded to be a "bad influence" as she called me when I took her to Bath and Body Works and Sephora (I hear more gasps from the MK world). But this is all in the name of W-E-D-D-I-N-G. Finally, we did get a chance to sit down and eat (a nap would have been better). Unfortunately, we both ran out of time and had to move on to our next committments for the day... so dress shopping will continue on Wednesday.
My day wrapped up with an invitation & favor making party with friends from the church. It was great! These ladies are such a blessing. They found a big OOPS with the invitation (Letty, what TIME will the ceremony begin?), but Betsy and Anna Marie came to the rescue and added the time to the invites. We did not get as much done as I would have liked, but we did cut a lot of ribbons, tied a lot of knots, and got a lot of prep work done!
Sunday after church, BW and I went to another Bridal Expo. It was MUCH smaller than the first one we went to (which was held at the OC fairgrounds), and we got roped into attending a vacation timeshare presentation. But oh well. The best thing about it was that I think I learned a new trick for putting the invites together so they will look better. I haven't tried it yet.
And the marathon continues this week. Besides finishing the invitations (and addressing them), I have to meet with two more florists, then pick the florist, shop some more for Cindy's dress AND meet with the photographer. But now I think I will take a nap! After all, I AM on vacation!
Oh well, I had another marathon to attend to, so I abandoned the ribbon search and just went and bought more. Actually, it turned out to be a good thing, because I added two new colors to the mix. My next marathon was a marathon shopping session. I was meeting my MOH at South Coast Plaza to hit the stores to search for her dress. We planned to meet at Nordie's, because she had a return to make, and I was in search of mascara. Please, no gasps from the Mary Kay world... our waterproof mascara, although it is great, does not give the kind of wedding day lashes that I want. Cindy was tied up by a major traffic accident on the freeway, so I not only got the mascara, but I picked up a few other necessities too (like perfume) and looked at the dresses that Nordies had to offer.
Once Cindy and I connected about 10:30, we were off! For the next 4 hours, we sought out dresses galore! She tried on a TON at Macy's, and then I proceeded to be a "bad influence" as she called me when I took her to Bath and Body Works and Sephora (I hear more gasps from the MK world). But this is all in the name of W-E-D-D-I-N-G. Finally, we did get a chance to sit down and eat (a nap would have been better). Unfortunately, we both ran out of time and had to move on to our next committments for the day... so dress shopping will continue on Wednesday.
My day wrapped up with an invitation & favor making party with friends from the church. It was great! These ladies are such a blessing. They found a big OOPS with the invitation (Letty, what TIME will the ceremony begin?), but Betsy and Anna Marie came to the rescue and added the time to the invites. We did not get as much done as I would have liked, but we did cut a lot of ribbons, tied a lot of knots, and got a lot of prep work done!
Sunday after church, BW and I went to another Bridal Expo. It was MUCH smaller than the first one we went to (which was held at the OC fairgrounds), and we got roped into attending a vacation timeshare presentation. But oh well. The best thing about it was that I think I learned a new trick for putting the invites together so they will look better. I haven't tried it yet.
And the marathon continues this week. Besides finishing the invitations (and addressing them), I have to meet with two more florists, then pick the florist, shop some more for Cindy's dress AND meet with the photographer. But now I think I will take a nap! After all, I AM on vacation!
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