Back to the plans- the color scheme.

For anyone who has noticed- Sorry. I know it has been a while. But anyway back to the wedding planning.

My original vision for the wedding- was yellow. I LOVE yellow. I had pictured a chique flow-y vintage wedding with my bridesmaids in elegant tea length or even long lacy dresses in yellow.

Here in Oregon we don’t have a lot of sunshine. We sort of have to make our own- and I always sort of assumed it will rain on our wedding day. It rains in March. On all the days. I’m over it.

But I had this vision of photos of a grey rainy day with pops of yellow umbrellas and cheery cozy yellow accents. I even added some bright blue as sort of a pop color on top of it. My vision was yellow roses with bachelor buttons. Very Oregon spring.

And then we found the bridesmaids dresses. Or they found us (but that’s another post) and all of a sudden champagne was in the mix. My original plan was to add yellow flowers and yellow boleros to the dresses so I could still have my pop of color but it really didn’t go. And then I saw this.

And in one day (consulting of course with David) our colors changed. Not drastically, as you can see, we kept the periwinkle and I may still have some bachelor buttons. All that has really changed is the yellow became champagne, but it really changed the feel of the wedding. I think it fits our style more.

Lastly here is my current inspiration board.

Happy planning!

Also for any other brides out there...

Here is a link to my handy spreadsheet.

Enter your final money due date

Enter your costs

Enter your payments and savings

Voila- How much you need to save per month to have it all!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rcyvmeHIjMGh5IgtyoFu2Xg

A short post from a long week-

So the wedding updates will have to trickle in gradually. It has been a really long week. However I have been united with the newest love of my life- the cuddlebug.

I started obsessing a while ago and this week I discovered that they have them at Michaels. And you can use the coupon. AAHH.

So the favors are in process right now- thanks to David and my handy dandy machine. I’ll post pics maybe Monday- but until then
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Where I am so far- the most important part- The dress

The Dress. The ONE dress. I started thinking about wedding dress styles when I was about 6. I got a Wedding Day Midge (Barbie’s friend) for my birthday. She had a little white mini dress, and you clipped this huge puffy skirt over it. And then at the end of the night when her and Ken left the reception, she changed into the mini dress and added a superfab very 80’s purple jacket.

And ever since then I’ve been hooked!

When my friends started getting married for real (not say-to each other in the backyard taking turns being the groom) I started looking for research purposes only of source- with them. I was amazed at how each bride found a dress that was so unique to her.

I wondered when it was my turn how I would find a unique dress? You see I was maid of honor 3 times in the last couple years. Plus I officiated my Dad’s wedding and I was a bridesmaid for another friend, and David’s close friend was married too. My first friend wore a modern off the shoulder side ruched gown. Another bride wore the modern version of what midge is wearing in that picture. Another wore an all silk puffy a-line with beading. Another wore a long flow-y empire waist dress. And lastly my best friend wore a 100% cotton bubble dress that came to her knees. So where did I fit in? With all those dresses I didn’t think I would find one that could be unique.

And then I discovered the lace dresses. How could I forget about lace?

Being a plus sized bride is depressing. The skinny models look awesome in lace! But when you go to the store they don’t ever have any actual lace dresses you can try on- they hold a size 4 in front of you so you can imagine how good you would look in it if you were a size 4.

Is it just me or do bridal stores seem to only get in dresses above a size 14 that are designed to make you look fat? Extra wide straps, that 90’s part from an empire waist- ugh. All the dresses come in all the sizes so why do they do this to us?

In general I don’t feel happy with my weight, but I promised myself that while wedding dress shopping I wouldn’t let it make me feel bad. Accompanied by my mom and Maid of Honor, I went out one day with the goal of finding “the one” with these requirements and rules:

1) the dress had to be well made. I don’t care what the label says but the fabric had better be nice

2) I absolutely will not stand behind size 4’s and pretend that is trying dresses on

3) No mermaids no pick ups and I was ok buying strapless but it wasn’t going to stay that way!

4) No rude sales people. This is a huge purchase and I was going to buy from a person I liked!

Anyone reading this who has yet to shop for her wedding gown should know one thing- CORSET BACK!!

It makes the dress fit so much better in the store- you don’t need to imagine as many alterations.

So back to the story- I had an appointment at a great little store in Clackamas OR- which I chose because they had a dress I loved- Gatsby by Maggie Sottero. And because they ordered a variety of sizes in a variety of dresses!

(gatsby)

So Pretty. Also dropped waist- only if you have a tiny waist! So It wasn’t for me.


I tried on a pile of dresses in lace in tulle in both and then the sales lady brought out a dress I NEVER would have pulled off the rack. I was looking for alencon lace, no beading, simple timeless. But this dress was amazing. It reminds me a bit of Audrey Hepburn’s dress in “My Fair Lady” I was sold.

It took my mom and best friend 20 minutes to convince me I should change my clothes so we could leave the store in not the dress. But with a price tag of $1200 before any alterations- I decided to hold off and continue the search.

Fast forward a month or so to the bridesmaid road trip extravaganza (details in the next post)

With my maids I went to try on more dresses. More expensive, cheaper, none of them could hold a candle to the Maggie dress. So I bought it. I went over the budget and I don’t even know what the alterations will cost- but I know that it is me.

Where I am so far- Part two- The other Venue

So I last left you at Vista House- Our awesome reception venue. What I left out is that we aren’t having the wedding itself there. There just isn’t enough time.

We started our search for ideas right up in the gorge. I had this vision of a beautiful white tent in the lawn near vista house-

We would get married in the tent and then everyone would follow us inside to celebrate! No driving it would be perfect! Then I had another vision- the gorge’s notorious wind blowing a tent full of wedding guests over I-85 into the river. Hmm- not so good.

So we started to search the area.
I thought we had hit pay dirt when we found the Viewpoint Inn. It is gorgeous! Historic! Amazing! Did I say gorgeous? Because it is!

And then we found out the price- we could have all the rooms to get ready and have the ceremony there- for $1500. For the location and how beautiful it is, that is not too bad.

But just cookies and cocoa for 50 ish people would be another $500. ($10 per person for a cookie?)

And then I looked at the online reviews. Now let me say- for the record that I have no idea if any of these reviews have any basis in fact. For all I know they are all by some disgruntled ex employee or crazy person, but they scared me. Brides not getting deposits back was the biggie. But some bad posts about management made me shy away too. The wedding coordinator has yet to notice I never gave her an answer on the place, I guess they didn’t miss us.

And it wasn’t really in our budget to pay an additional $2000 for just a ceremony site- so the Viewpoint Inn fell by the wayside.

My next plan was the Colombia Gorge Hotel. All it would require would be winning the lottery and it would be no problem! (Don’t I just have champagne taste?) You see it cost even more than the Viewpoint Inn. And before I could contact them to see if I could do some sort of toned down package in my budget- they closed.

(i couldn't resist the vintage postcard- this place is so pretty!)

I am still sad when I think about it. I have ALWAYS loved this place. I used to play on the grounds when I was up visiting friends who lived in the area when I was like 5. To me it is the perfect hotel. And now it is empty.

And I still didn’t actually have a place to get married.

My dad suggested I look at vineyards. I learned quickly that if my wedding was only 2 weeks later in the year we could be wed in the gorgeous blooming vineyards in the gorge. But that weekend in March that we chose- All it is-is sticks in mud.

However in my vineyard search, I discovered a new type of venue. You see the Oregon chain McMenamins makes brew pubs in cool historic buildings.

They have one that is about a 15 minute drive from vista house. And it’s a hotel. And a vineyard. And has 3 pubs. And a pool hall. And a spa. And has a golf coarse. And they have a movie theatre. And the movie theatre will hold all my guests. And I can get married there just by buying $300 worth of food. And $300 would cover the cookies and cocoa we wanted to serve in lieu of a cocktail hour.

So we went, and checked it out- and it rocks.

We can block hotel rooms for the guests! And there is plenty to do onsite! (Did I mention glassblowing?) And after the wedding ends at 11, everyone can continue the party at the pub if they want!

And that is our happy venue ending.

Next up- The dress!

Where I am so far- Part one- the venue

That’s right folks- were Tarantinoing it (starting somewhere in the middle and then I’ll tell you the beginning) As of today there are 9 months 16 days left until our wedding. To me it seems like not a lot of time. If you count weekends that’s 41. Considering I still have to make the invitations and earn most of the money it really seems like I just barely have time! *breathe* ok I’m calm now. Besides, the subject of this post is supposed to be, where I am now, not what I still have to do.

I started with the fun stuff. The first thing we did post engagement was agree that the wedding should be at Vista House in the Colombia River Gorge.

I know.

It’s amazing. I have wanted to get married here since I was very little and I found out I couldn’t live here.

But it isn’t always perfect. You see the fire code at Vista House has a max capacity of 88 people. 88 is not a lot of people. Especially when your mom is one of 6 kids, and they almost all are married and have kids. I am the oldest of all my cousins so when I was a baby, I was the baby for all of them. Which means they all are excited, and plan to come. So we will be a little tight on space, but it’s ok. David’s family is very small by comparison. His mom only has one brother who only had one kid, so that helps.

But size issues aside Vista House has some other snags. The biggie is that during all the months when the weather is likely to be nice- you can’t rent it because it’s open to the public until 6pm. If we can’t start to set up until 6 pm that means the earliest we could even consider having a wedding is 7pm. Oh and we have to be out by 11. For me that is just not enough time. I mean I only get the one wedding, so I think it should be as much wedding as I can handle!

Before the good season (April- October) Vista House is open to the public only until 4. This means that we can have it right at 4- so it will be all set up at by 5. Giving me a 6 hour reception instead of 4. That sounds good to me!

The only major downside is that sometimes in the off season in the Gorge- it snows. And rains sideways. Oh and did I mention 50 mph winds? And that can all happen in one day. But we’ll risk it- for the sake of a really good party and an awesome venue.

My 1st post!

Hi Everyone! (or no one....)
I'm Tova! Also I have a secret to tell you *sshh* I have never blogged before

OK now i need to tell you that I lied. I totally had a live journal for about a week. But i didn't really know what to do with it, so I gave up.

But seriously this is my first legit attempt at documenting my live since I had a journal in high school.

So here is some stuff about me:

I am engaged. It is the most important thing about me (ranked by how often I talk about it). I love being engaged. The future hubby David and I have been together since high school and i am so ready to be his wife! The thing that makes a serious relationship difficult when you are young is that you aren't both mature going into it. Sometimes your relationship is ready for things that you aren't! I have known I wanted to marry David since about a week of dating him, but it has taken us a long time to get to this point where we can: A) afford a wedding, B) start to feel like grownups who are ready to be a family, and C) rent a car on our honeymoon. (just kidding I'll still be 24)

Some other stuff about me:
I love science. I am a chemist for a company here in Eugene my homeland.

I am also a little unreasonably obsessed with my cat Dutchess- named for the Aristocats!

I speak French and Italian. Mostly French- I started taking it when i was 7!

I LOVE to travel. I spent 7 months during college being a bum with a backpack and a eurail pass and just going where i felt in Europe. I think everyone should do this.

OH- also I am Canadian. I was born in Calgary but I have lived in the states since I was about 2.

That's kind of the highlights. Now I'll give you some dirt on the man:

His name is David and he is awesome. Like gets up at 6 with me and irons my clothes for work even though he doesn't have to be up till 10 awesome.

He makes glasses at LensCrafters.

He is an Opera student. He is a tenor and his voice just makes me melt. He also sings with a group called Rezonate *ahem shameless plug ahem*. They were 3rd at the Harmony Sweepstakes this year and they will blow your socks off... or whatever.

So That's us for now. I hope someone other than Dutchess reads this!