Wedding planners (the portfolios, not the people) January 12, 2009

First let me say– I love stationary! Any reason to buy a new notebook or paper product just makes my heart sing. So of course, one of the first things I went looking for upon my engagement was a wedding planner. I just need something basic to keep track of the details.

Sadly, I still haven’t found one! I just want something that has modern style and design, but without the ridiculous pricetag that seems to come from anything with the word “WEDDING” attached to it. I don’t want to this to have to be “budgeted’- I just want to be able to pick one up with a little bit of leftover money that had been budgeted to gas for the car. I am not sure that is going to be possible.

Some of my favorite choices:

Martha Stewart Wedding. Price at Amazon: $35.

Come on- it’s Martha for heaven’s sakes! How can you go wrong? I trust that every single thing I could ever wonder about will be addressed in this book.

Don’t let it be said, however, that Martha is not a generous woman. There is also the FREE online Martha Stewart planner. I have signed up for this, but I haven’t really filled it out. I just really want something on paper that I can easily reference with just the flip of a page.

The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide Price at Amazon: $11.53, which makes me wonder if a new edition is coming out soon. I love theknot.com- I have a huge “notebook” of ideas on their site, and I like the way the site is organized. I am sure that I would love this book. The price is speaking to me…..and after all, it IS eligible for Super Saver Shipping!

And then… then there’s the planner that speaks to the true stationary lover in me. It’s by Russell+Hazel, whose stationary I just love (for some reason, I especially love their To Do post it notes. Fabulous.)  This past year they debuted their wedding planner and it is gorgeous, and everything I am looking for in a wedding planner– stylish, well organized and appointed, plenty of space for samples and brides magazine cutouts.

Russell+Hazel Wedding Planner

And all of this could be mine for $75. *Gasp, die* However, Russell+Hazel, knowing that even poor people like me deserve style in their wedding planning, have put their wedding planner pages online for us to download.

Do you hear that noise? It’s the angels singing! They are rejoicing that I get to have style and be a cheap miser at the same time!! **que Handel’s Hallelujah chorus**

So, I think that I am going to go to SeeJaneWork.com and order myself one of their high quality binders (I have some and I do love them) and just print out the R+H wedding planner and use that. Still not totally bargain basement, but still stylish and it will make me happy.

What do you all think? Should I purchase a “real” wedding planner, or make my own?

Venue update

Wow- so many details! It’s amazing to find out what is included and what is not in each place you look.

Well, the venue tour turned out all right. The botanical gardens are gorgeous, but the room we’d fit in (and can afford) is pretty small. No dance floor or anywhere to “do” anything after you eat dinner. I guess you could wander around the gardens (and I am sure folks would do that anyway).

Hotel Metro was super-cool, but wow it’s super expensive. Most dinners on the menu were over $70. $70 for a steak? Seriously? The dining room is beautiful, and the Zen on 7 is totally right up our alley. It fits our style precisely, but narrowing down the guest list to 36…..zoinks! On the other hand, it might be easier to do than I think. (Perhaps I am flattering myself as to how  many people will want to attend my wedding!) So, for now we are marking Hotel Metro as a “maybe.”

The Pabst Mansion is a really cool place, but Flemish Renaissance just doesn’t fit my motif I think. The woodwork in the house is amazing, though, and I highly recommend people visit. Those in charge have done a beautiful job of restoration.

We didn’t make it to Bacchus because no one was there to meet us (turns out their wedding planner was in Madison.) Still a distinct maybe. We are going to visit Tuesday evening.

Hello World January 10, 2009

ooohh a first blog post. Well, since this is a wedding blog, let’s give some stats!

Groom: Sergei

Bride: Tonya

Wedding date: ??!!? September 2009. IF we can find a place and IF we can prevent ourselves from having a stroke at how much everything costs. This is the second wedding for both of us and a simple “let’s just get together with a few close family members and friends” type of party is turning into a $15000 montrosity, just from the simple fact of how much everything costs. Watch this space to find out if I can find ways to let the Dutch thriftiness in me shine through!

Motif: Sergei is Ukrainian and came to America in 2002 and became a citizen in 2006. (Yay! Score one for the USA.) We are looking at ways to blend his heritage and mine into the ceremony as well as the details.

Size: Probably around 50 people.

Today’s Task: THE VENUE

Today’s task: THE VENUE

Can I just say– OH MY GOD YOU WANT ME TO PAY WHAT?!?!?!? Seriously, wedding reception costs are out of control, peeps!

Here is where we are going today:

1. Boerner Botanical Gardens.

It’s beautiful, has a perfect “gazebo” space and has reasonable cost. Plus, we catering is on site and we could get married there as well. (No need for a separate space for the ceremony.)

2. Hotel Metro.

It’s a gorgeous, updated Art Deco hotel here in town, and as I am an Art Deco fanatic, this would be a logical place to have my wedding. However, it is much more expensive— and yet we are looking at it anyway. Take this as “Bride Ignoring Cost and Her Own Common Sense, Exhibit 1”. Yes, we are looking “just in case we love it and we’ll just have to find the money somewhere…..”. On the other hand, the Zen garden and terrace (pictured above) is quite less expensive, but can only hold a max of 36 people for a reception. I am not sure we can get the guest list down THAT far….

3. The Pabst Mansion.

I am a history buff and as such this is the perfect place as well. A bit different feel than Art Deco, so we’ll see. The costs are reasonable, but their restrictions are amazing (as well they should be if you are inviting people in to party in a 100+ year old mansion.) Including, no red-tomato sauce. The irony? Two of their approved caterers are Italian restaurant….”Today’s Menu: Italian Wedding Cookies, Chicken Alfredo and Garlic Bread!” A menu to match the bride’s dress I guess! I know this place will make me miss St. Louis’ Lemp Mansions and all its ghosts. Now THAT would be a place to have a wedding.

4. Bacchus Restaurant.

This restaurant has special meaning for Sergei and I as we’ve had some romantic dinners here, and it’s also got a great 1940s vibe to it (you can totally imagine Bogie walking in at any moment.) Problem I think will be $$. I haven’t got all the details yet, so we’ll see.

And then I’d like to have lunch at a little spot in town that is rumored to have great sea salt caramels, which is what I’d love to have for our favors.

I’m off to get in the shower and get exploring. Our findings later!