STD's and Invitations. :)

The first time I read STD's on a wedding blog it threw me off. So, alas, if you're confused: STD's = Save the Dates.

Jeff and I spent a few hours one night and banged out the first round of them for family and friends. We made 30 or so and then called it a night. We make a good team. And it was all his idea for our "date night." :)

I used Photoshop to design them. I scanned in a topographic map of the part of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Caledonia State Park, then searched for hours for the perfect outdoorsy font online. I found a leafy one and loved it!

I also bought some circle Avery labels and printed them in orange, purple, and green-
Jeff and Heidi / 9.24.11 / <3 <3 <3

They got tucked under the twine we tied around the STD then.

At this point not everyone got an STD... but most people know about the date- so I'm not too concerned. I also personally handed out all of them (which I know is semi-tabboo), but it saved us postage- so I'm not complaining. And guess what- the invitations are being hand delivered as much as possible as well! Bam- that saves me $50 :)

So, I'm working on the tedious task of designing the whole invitation suite using Photoshop. It will use the same Eggplant paper from the STDs, and we're going to create pocketfolds with them.

I have to zoom in to 300% and then touch up every little leaf... erased the blurred gray edge... blahh blahh blahh... time consuming blahh blahh blahh... :P But saving $$$$$$$!!

My woodburner is my new favorite toy! These puppies are going to go on the outside of the pocketfold invitation with some burlap and twine. :) I'm pretty darn excited.

I have my MoH and a BM that have offered to help assemble invitations... provided that I have Mountain Dew and Elios pizza at their disposal. :)

This week I'm ordering the last of the paper I need- and then in two weeks it's invitation time!!! Woot woot!

Crysanthe-what??

The moment I've been dreading.

Choosing flowers...

I've had numerous people suggest that I go with wildflowers that I handpick and arrange. As you can see from my DIY list... I have enough to do on my own. I'm turning to professionals on this one!

I would like to be prepared when I get there- so I'm brainstorming some beautiful orange and plum flowers to ask about! :)

Ladies- orange bouquets

Gents- purple boutonieres

Me- orange and purple bouquet

Jeff- purple flower with orange berry accent... or something twiggy

My original plan was to have the ladies carrying orange gerbera daisies. I love the bright pop of color with the playful green color on the stems... but now I'm expanding my horizons because I want to incorporate whatever flowers they have into my bouquet... and, well, I don't want gerbera daisies in mine. :)

So, plan B:

tiger lillies

I like these stemmy things curving around- maybe with twigs??

alstroemeria- nice little wildflowery feel to it!

orange lillies

As far as purple flowers go... I love the color of deep purple cala lillies... but I don't like the price. I haven't fallen in love with any purple flowers yet- so if you see any please let me know!

D-I-Y Gone Wild!

((D-I-Y..... do it yourself.))

Call me crazy, but I've been very inspired by DIY projects lately. I know they can be quite time consuming, but when you're working with a tight budget anything you can do to save money you should! There is so much to choose from for the rustic outdoors theme though!!!!

Here's my "to do" list so far:

Reception:

*3 wooden cake stands- http://http//www.oncewed.com/8448/wedding-blog/diy-wedding/diy-tree-pedestal-cake-stand/

*20-25 Centerpieces-

*Table number displays- take photographs of natural elements shaped into numbers
(this picture is an example of a found alphabet- I will be taking photographs of rocks in the shape of a 6, or twigs that write the letter 4)

*Seating/Escort Cards- cut slats into a log at a diagonal angle so the escort cards are readable looking down at them... *Napkin Rings- using an awesome purple/orange/green fabric one of my BMs found!! (Not in this picture)- http://www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com/wedding-napkin-rings.html

*Sign for Meal- instead of menu cards... I'm thinking a chalkboard...

*Funny Face Guestbook Table- we're having a POGO printer at the reception which prints out 2"x3" photos from your camera for our guestbook. Jeff and I love our funny face pictures, so they've inspired us to have our guests do the same.

The best part is that each of the photos that prints out comes out with a sticky back... easily added to our awesome guestbook!!

Yep, that's a wood front cover. I might be able to get a wood burner and carve our initials into it... like of like the bark of a tree. :)

*Trail Mix Bar- for our hors d'oeuvres we're having a trail mix bar!! There will be 12 different ingredients to mix and match. I bought baskets for it already, but I have to make liners for them so the food can sit right in them! Yum!!

*Favors- S'Mores Kits!!!!! Each kit will make two S'Mores and will be held in a burlap bag with a sticker on the front with our names/date/ and instructions on them... S'more Kits will include 2 mallows, four graham crackers, one hershey single size hershey bar, one reese's cup, and a folded wire hanger to roast them with!!!!!

Stationery-

*Save the Dates (almost done)- created the design myself on Photoshop and ordered paper from http://www.papertemptress.com/! She is amazing to work with!!!

32 done. We have 20 more to make...

They are 4"x6" cards with Eggplant colored cardstock, then there is a natural color cardstock ontop. The border is a topographic map of the Appalachian Trail in the area of our wedding, and the font is a Leaves font I found online. Each SaveTheDate has a piece of hemp tied around that secures 3 stickers to it with our names and wedding date on it... for easy application to calendars. :)

*Invitations- just recieved my paper in the mail yesterday. Will be working on them in my free time... but they don't need to be completed until 3 or 4 months down the road. I have a feeling most of them will be done over spring break week!!!

*Crossword Puzzle- (almost done) These are going to be at the tables during the reception for people to work on while we're getting pictures taken!

*Wedding Programs- not sure what direction I'm going with these yet...

*"Day Of" Itinerary Cards- for everyone in the wedding parties... timeline of the day on the front, and on the back will be their personal responsibilities

*Wedding Update Newsletters- was originally going to make these to send out to my girls... but then I realized I don't have that much free time... so, instead hopefully they'll follow my blog on here and let me know what they think! And chip in ideas!! :)


Wedding:

*Wedding Pointer Signs-

*Rose Petal Cone Holders- using brown kraft paper... they will hold plum rose petals :)

Extras:

*Bridesmaid Gifts- SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE!!!!!! I can't post them on here yet though... since they might look at this site... but I'm pretty darn proud of them!

*Itunes Playlists- To save money, we're not having a formal DJ... instead our friend from church will be M.C.ing... it's just up to me to have the playlists ready!!