My Wedding Report

Remember when I played dress up with Mama Duckling’s wedding dress? Well after trying on her dress I wanted to figure out some way to incorporate the lace into my veil. There was a veil that I loved when I first tried on my dress, but it was a crazy $1000!! That clearly wasn’t it the budget, but I loved the lace edging and thought that maybe we could do the same thing with my mom’s lace.

I hadn’t found a normal veil at a reasonable price yet, and I was nervous about finding someone who could incorporate the lace from my mom’s dress and do it custom for me. I remembered hearing about Candi Merlee’s Crowning Glory Designs and her reasonable prices.

I contacted Candi and it just so happened that she lived about 30 minutes away from me. She invited me to her house so I could try on some veils and figure out what I wanted. I asked Mama Duckling to come with me to design my veil. After being greeted by Candi we went into a room to try on various sample veils to get an idea of what I liked. We also showed her Mama Ducklings dress and that we wanted to incorporate it into the design.

Here are a few of the veils I tried on to get a feel for different styles on me.

After lots of sample veils and discussing what I really wanted we decided that she would take the lace off the bottom of my Mama Duckling’s dress, tea die it (who knew you could die with tea?) so that it would match the more ivory color of my dress. I wanted the veil to be very soft, a little shorter than fingertip length and the lace to not completely frame my face so it didn’t look like I was boxed in.

How much did this custom veil cost me? Fifty-two dollars! Can you believe that? Such a reasonable price and completely custom for me including all the work taking the lace off Mama Duckling’s dress. My veil was ready 2 weeks later and was perfect. And just so you can see, here is a teaser picture from the wedding day.

I highly recommend Candi to anyone that is looking for a custom veil. She was so sweet, easy to work with and it didn’t take long to get the veil back. Also, you don’t have to live in Orange County. She takes veil orders from all over the US and even other countries. She doesn’t have a website in order to keep costs down, but if you are interested her email is: candi@cgveils.com

Are you doing anything to incorporate something special or a piece from the past into your wedding day attire?

After leaving Pepperdine (go here for Part I if you are just catching up), we headed to an awesome beach spot that Mike knew about. We definitely hiked down a small cliff to get to it, but I think it was well worth it. The day was coming to an end and the gentle lighting just was perfect for the beautiful setting.

All Photo Credits go to Mike Larson Photography

These last few pictures were just above the beach as we were getting ready to leave for the day. Mike asked us to wait behind them and took advantage of the gorgeous scenery.

We had so much fun with Mike, Rachel and Chloe. The afternoon seemed to fly by! I’m so excited that they will be shooting our wedding as well and can’t wait to hang out more. I think that the engagement pictures were a great way for us to get more comfortable in front of the camera, not to mention a chance to get to know some wonderful people. Also, as an FYI Mike is a destination wedding photographer. Their studio is actually based in San Luis Obispo, but he is often in the LA area and is traveling down to San Diego for our wedding.

Well that’s it for the Duckling engagement pictures! What did you think? Any ideas for which ones we should use on our Save the Dates and website?

What are your favorite e-pics from your own shoot? Share them below, I’d love to see!

Where have I been? Well things have just been crazy and I have lots of posts to catch up on. I’m two weeks away from finishing my last semester of my graduate program! However, the first thing I absolutely have to share with you are the engagement pictures! I last left off telling you about the wonderful make-up advice from Lo.

After getting ready we jumped in the car and headed up to LA to meet our photographer, Mike Larson and his wife Rachel (Remember when I talked about them way back when?). Mike and his team had just gotten back from Costa Rica a few days before and spent the whole weekend shooting a wedding in LA, but were willing to spend the afternoon with us shooting our pictures. Mike was taking pictures, assisted by Chloe who is one of the associate photographers. We originally were going to start shooting at the Getty Museum, but the place was packed so we started heading towards the coast.

Mr. Ducky and I met at Pepperdine during our undergrad years, so it made sense that we’d return to our beautiful campus for some engagement pictures. We have so many memories from this place and we felt like having pictures there would give extra meaning.

We started off in a little patch of wild flowers that overlooks the campus. Mike warned us that we would feel super awkward for the first five minutes, but then it would be okay. Well, he was definitely right. We just giggled awkwardly for the first five minutes and slowly relaxed with the fabulous coaching and encouragement from Chloe.

All Photo Credits are to Mike Larson Photography

Who remembers that we make all major decisions via Rock, Paper, Scissors? Not sure that it’s the best way to do it, but hey it works.

And here is some evidence of awkward giggles thinking, “Are we looking as funny as we feel?”

After our warm-up we headed over to Alumni Field that sits right on PCH and is the first part of Pepperdine’s campus you see from the road. It overlooks the ocean and is where lots of the major events and graduations happen during the year.

Blowing little dandelions makes white things stick to all your hair and clothing…but isn’t it amazing the detail a camera can capture?

Revenge of the dandelion!

We headed up to Hero’s Garden which is at the very top of Pepperdine’s campus and has just a gorgeous view. The garden was built to honor a Pepperdine alumnus who died on of the 9/11 flights. It is just serene and was a place we often went when we were first dating to just relax, talk and take in the beautiful scenery. It’s actually where we first said I love you.

Awesome…

With Mike’s encouragement, we jumped into the fountain to get some more shots.  I love the reflection you can see.  It was kind of cold though and I luckily had a dress to change into, Mr. Ducky sacrificed his jeans for the creative cause.

Water fight! If you are going to get in the fountain you might as well splash. Actually we really didn’t get each other that wet. Mike directed us to splash in front of or behind one another to get the picture so that we could avoid getting soaked.

A few more pictures on campus before leaving for our next spot.

Well that is it for Part I at Pepperdine, next we headed to the beach but I’m going to keep you in suspense for a little longer. Actually I think I like the beach pictures even more! We had a great time with Mike, Rachel and Chloe. They are truly wonderful people that have a passion for what they do. If you get some extra time check out Mike’s blog and Chloe’s blog to see some of their amazing work.

Do you have any favorites? We are finalizing our Save the Date design and trying to choose which picture to use. But those are a whole different post to come soon!

What was your engagement pictures session like? Did you choose a place that had special meaning as well?

We haven’t had too much conflict over wedding planning issues. Some questions have come up, but we usually resolve them quickly and reach a happy compromise. However, there is the one thing that has continually come up and always ends in a disagreement. Part of me feels so silly for sharing this, but if anyone can relate or it helps someone then it’s worth posting.

Our great debate is over what to do for the music during the reception. I know many bees (Mrs. Bell Pepper and others) have pondered this same issue and I’ve seen it discussed on the boards. Even reading many of these discussions, we still can’t decide. Recently we’ve just put the decision off, but we are getting to the point that we really need to book the DJ now, if we go that route.

Source

Ready for the arguments? Just kidding, but I’ll breakdown the reasoning and issues we are going back and forth with.

Ipod Reception
Mr. Ducky wants to do an ipod reception because of how much money it can save and we’ll have more control over what is played. He would prefer to rent the speakers and create different playlists ahead of time. He is very good at technology and does not think it would be hard to get all the equipment ready that day and then just press play. He has a good friend from college who he wants to include in the wedding and would ask him to be the MC. Also, we probably wouldn’t just rely on an ipod, but would have a Mac there set up with all the music.

As much as I want to trust Mr. Ducky to get this all worked out, I am literally filled with anxiety when I think about the ipod. I just have flashes of something going wrong with the technology and Mr. Ducky being the one that has to step away and fix it himself. I would be so bummed to lose my groom during part of the reception to technological difficulties. I so badly want people to dance and have a good time, and while a DJ does not guarantee that, I think one could better create the environment that allows dancing to happen. I worry about having this friend MC, and would never want to feel upset with him if the reception dancing totally bombed. I’m also not sure about his friend being able to be an MC that can appeal from twenty-somethings all the way up to our grandparents.

DJ Reception
A DJ can create the mood and atmosphere with the music he/she plays. They can read the crowd and see what is working or not working. Most DJs have done hundreds of weddings and know what to do and what not to do. I’ve spoken to a few DJs on the phone and found some with high recommendations that don’t sound like they would be cheesy or awkward. I feel like I’ll be more at ease knowing that the DJ deals with all the sound equipment etc. and we don’t have to worry about a thing. With a DJ we can have a professional who is polished and experienced with all things wedding. And while I would never want to frivolously spend unnecessary money, I really feel like the extra money from our budget is worth hiring a DJ.

Mr. Ducky thinks that many wedding DJs are just too cheesy and wants to avoid that at all cost. We’ve been to several weddings where the DJ plays not great music and says strange things. He also thinks that we shouldn’t spend the money if we have the skill to do it ourselves. Mr. Ducky definitely has ideas of what he wants played at the wedding and wants the power to control that. He think that our wedding will be fun no matter what, and people will either dance or won’t dance; a DJ won’t effect that.

I know Mrs. Pomegranate and Mrs. Candy Corn both debated ipod receptions, but in the end found DJs that they loved after worrying about ipod issues. Mrs. Pineapple decided to use the “free-j” and felt really good and confident about going that route. Mrs. Tulip had an ipod reception, but there were some problems when the ipod stopped working. Mrs. Corn recently attended a wedding with an ipod and wrote a noteworthy review.

So I turn to the hive, what are your thoughts? Are you having this debate? Did anyone have an ipod reception? What is your review? What are your reasons for going with a DJ?

Any recommendations for an affordable, non-cheesy, fun DJ in San Diego?

Sorry my posts have been slow this week, there is a lot going on! I will fill you all in on the details of everything very soon, so thanks for being patient with me.

One of the things I’ve been working on is researching florists for the wedding. I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to flowers, so I’ve been slowly learning and researching more. Yesterday I was reading WeddingbeePRO and came across this great post by Nancy from Nancy Liu Chin Designs. She broke down all the different components of flowers that you need and how to best research what you looking for. She also talks about how to approach the florists.

Here’s a blurb from the post:
“A floral arrangement is a hand crafted, custom product and it varies in price. The components in pricing wedding flowers are:

- Creativity
- Quantity and Quality
- Seasonality of flowers
- Color of the flowers
- Holidays - supply of certain flowers during peak holidays increase
- Fixed costs of a business
- Labor and design costs
- Delivery and setup
- Materials
- Props, Rentals, Containers, Supplies
- Customer Service
- Exclusivity of a Designer
- Travel Costs
- Location”

This was exactly what I needed since I’ve been researching florists recommended by Courtney and other sources all week.

I wanted to know more so I commented on her post with this:
“Thanks for sharing all this information. I’m currently researching florists and had no idea where to start when I contact them. Would it be a good idea to send an email and answer some of those questions when I initially contact the florist?”

Sure enough I check my email later in the day, and Nancy had emailed me back! How amazing is that? I was so surprised and grateful! Here is what she said:

“IMO, I think that all brides should do some research. Go to the websites that I recommended. Look at the flowers. Flip through magazines. Get some idea of what you are looking at.
Then search the florists in your area. Look for the details. Pinpoint 3 to 5 florists that you want to meet. I personally think that meeting with more than 3 is just too many. When I got married, I saw 4 people and that was confusing enough. I might have contacted 5 but I only made an appointment to see 4 of them. And frankly, I could have only seen 3!

Finally, if you really really like a florist, try to build a great relationship from the beginning. Don’t try to “nickle and dime” them. Because just as you have a choice in selecting a floral designer or florist, they have the right to work with whom they want. It’s one of the hardest lessons in life but one I learned early. Be kind. Be nice. Be direct. If you cannot afford the florist that you want, be honest with them and tell them where you need to be. Make them try to find creative solution but don’t do it in a way that they think you are negotiating.
Also, try not to pick the florist that you want b/c of price unless they meet both of your criterias….I have had many friends who select their florist b/c of price, not because of their creativity. It took more energy to explain what they wanted in the end. Ultimately, they might have gotten the flowers at a great price but the look was just not right.”

Thanks Nancy!!

All photos from Ritzy Bee Blog

Looks like I have some work to do right? I’m definitely using Nancy’s tips and I will keep you updated with how it goes. I just thought I’d share the useful information and show you just how awesome the wedding blog community can be when you ask a question.

Have you found your florist? What was helpful in your search?

Sometimes I come across a blog post that causes me to get so excited, I have to show Mark. I came across this post from Amelia Lyon Photography on WeddingbeePRO. So after I confirmed with Mark that he also thinks these pictures are unbelievable, I decided I needed to post here in case you missed them. These images are absolutely breathtaking…I can’t share them all so be sure to go check this post and see the rest.

The last picture is my favorite!!

Alright I’m shutting down for the night, I just had to share those amazing pictures with you!!

I’ve told you about my philosophy of picking vendors, my amazing coordinator and why I need to ask for help. What I’ve haven’t share with you yet is who my fabulous photographer is. I guess I should probably tell you how I met him.

I actually knew about Mike’s photography well before Mr. Ducky and I were engaged. Several mutual friends and acquaintances in the few years have gotten married and used his photography. Due to the social networking of Facebook and seeing tagged pictures of my friends, I got linked to his website and was completely amazed. The photography I found on his site caught my attention and I was instantly impressed.

Last summer I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my best friends. The day of the wedding I was able to meet Mike and his beautiful wife, Rachel. Mike and Rachel got there early in the morning as we were getting ready and were taking pictures all day and all night long. I can’t say enough about this couple other than they are a blessing and an inspiration to be around. They just became part of the group as we laughed, snacked and prepared the bride for her big moment. Mike and Rachel’s love for one another is present in their work and I think that it makes the end result better. I felt like I was able to get to know them both and that they were people who I would want to spend time with. They were exactly the people that I wanted on our team.

I’m beyond excited that I get to have Mike as my photographer and feel so blessed that we will get to know he and Rachel more in the coming months. Mr. Ducky and I are getting our engagement photos done soon and I’m already anxiously anticipating a fun day of photography, getting to know Mike and Rachel and getting a step closer to our wedding.

Now for small peak at the incredible photography.

And for the most crazy thing that Mike does…he literally throws his camera in the air to get this picture. What!?!

I can’t even come close to fitting all the amazing images on here. So please go check out the Mike Larson website and blog to see more!

It is so important to be able to step back and ask for help when we need it. It is what will keep us sane in life and from going on overload. (This is my inner therapist talking, it is a whole different ballgame taking my own advice) This same concept of asking for help applies to wedding planning. Since I already shared with you about my amazing coordinator, I want to fill you in on why I thought it was so important to find someone to help with that day.

I love event planning. I’ve been doing it for years and Mark has as well. Before deciding to become a therapist I thought seriously about wedding planning. I couldn’t wait to plan my own wedding if for no other reason than I would get to plan a major event and all its details. However, I knew that I without question wanted a day of coordinator.

Why is this? Experience. Two years ago Mark and I helped plan our best friends’ wedding. It was a backyard wedding in Malibu and it was beautiful! The wedding reflected them as couple with Beatles ceremony music, Sprinkles cupcakes, DIY centerpieces and floral and trivia during dinner. I was a bridesmaid and the stand-in wedding planner and I don’t think I sat down once that day. I didn’t get a chance to soak in all our hard work or catch up with out of town friends. Even if something wasn’t going on I was anticipating the next moment I would be needed or a vendor was coming to ask me one question or another. Now this was totally okay. They were on a $10,000 budget and I loved being able to give that gift to my friend. However, I learned that you can’t do it all as the bride and if one of your guests does it they won’t be able to truly relax and enjoy the celebration.

I’ve heard similar experiences from friends and stress falling onto mother of the bride, bridesmaid or some willing friend. No matter how organized and on top of it you are, the day will be hectic and things will need to be taken care of.

I’m also a perfectionist (hey I admit it) and have a hard time just trusting someone random to take care of all the details and things I care about. I’m this way for group projects in school, planning events and probably even more so for my wedding. I knew that in order to FULLY let go of the control and trust another person to handle all the details I would need a professional that I trusted. Thus I found Courtney from Joyful Weddings and Events. If for some reason I couldn’t plan any part of my wedding I would without question have picked Courtney to do it for me. I trust her taste, abilities and talent, which means I will gladly hand the details over for the wedding when the time comes.

I ended up choosing the month-of package with Courtney after meeting with her. Courtney helps me create the time line for the wedding, contacts all my vendors for arrival time and last minute details, does a final walk-though with me at the site, gives vendor referrals and I can email or call her with any questions along the way. What a relief!

Do you absolutely have to hire a day of coordinator or planner etc? No. I know that it can be way out of budget for people and I think its a personal choice. You have to look at yourself and the people around you and evaluate what is best. For me personally, I knew that I would be much more relaxed and happier being able to hand the details off or I would not let go and worry all day. My mom is the same way and I didn’t want that to happen for the wedding. For me and our budget, finding someone to help was a major priority and I was willing to sacrifice other things.

If you are on a budget and there isn’t money, I absolutely believe that there are people who are more than willing to step up to the plate. As with all things there are so many untapped resources in your immediate network, you just have to ask. Just make sure you are as organized as possible and that duties are clearly assigned. (In the wedding that I was in this was not the case; plus some unexpected events such as the groom forgetting the rings led to more chaos…)

All Photos from The Knot

What about you? What was your thought process in whether or not to hire a day-of coordinator or even full wedding planner? Do you have a hard time asking for help and giving up control like me?

P.S. I think I need to devote a full recap to the wedding in Malibu. Just imagine lost rings, loose dogs, Sprinkles cupcakes, candlelight and Europe’s The Final Countdown playing in the background.

…Courtney from Joyful Weddings & Events is my month-of-coordinator!!

When I was looking for a day of coordinator I did lots of research to find vendors in my area. I emailed a lot of different people and met a few and talked with people I liked, but no one that I was really excited about or they were so far out of my budget there was no chance. (If you are an OC/SD person and want to hear more details about those vendors shoot me a message and I’d be happy to go into more detail)

Then I got an email from Courtney and she invited me to meet her at a bridal show she was doing in San Diego. I met her really briefly there and unfortunately couldn’t stay long, but based on her and her awesome booth I decided I wanted to meet with her again.

A great thing about Courtney is that she does weddings in both Orange County and San Diego, so I was able to meet her for coffee in Orange County after class one night. As we chatted back a forth at the local Starbucks I felt like I found a new friend! She seemed to just understand me and get what we wanted for the wedding. I loved hearing about her life, family and wonderful business. Our time flew by and at the end of it I felt like I had just found a new friend and most importantly someone I wanted on the team!

She knew all the wedding blogs that I mentioned and the different ideas that I had gotten from them. This was great, because I have gotten so much inspiration for wedding blogs etc. and some of the other coordinators I had met with had no idea what I was talking about. Another huge thing? She has a cricut!?! Yes I know, I’m a huge nerd. But I was so excited to find someone who actually knew what the cricut was and someone who could give me more ideas on how to use it for the wedding.

If you check out Courtney’s blog, you will see her amazing creativity and DIY projects for her own events. She has an awesome style that is fun, chic, whimsical and beautiful. Being a bride that plans on doing DIY projects, it was important that I find someone who also valued those details and believes in how they can make the wedding that much more special and meaningful. After meeting Courtney and connecting with her, I knew that I would be able to trust her with taking care of all my final details and that she would be able to handle of any crisis that happens that day. I felt like I could learn a lot from Courtney and that our wedding would be that much more special and memorable with her being a part of it.

Now for some eye candy from her wonderful weddings…

All Photos From Joyful Weddings & Events Blog

While I love wedding planning and wouldn’t give it up for the world, I know that if I had to choose someone to plan the whole wedding from start to finish, I would choose Courtney. I couldn’t be more excited to work with Courtney through this whole process and am thankful in advance that she will be putting up with me!

Aren’t you amazed by her work? If you haven’t yet check out her website and blog! Also, she just had one of her weddings featured in the latest Ceremonies magazine and on the WedddingbeePRO!

Now I know there are several of you that are wondering whether or not you need a day of/month of coordinator and if one is worth the cost. I want to give my thought behind that topic so I’ll try to share some of my thoughts in an upcoming post.