Currently, we are in the process of nailing down the menu for the reception. As a reminder, Vlad from Quince will be catering the event.
Vlad specializes in New Mexican cuisine but we have decided to go with a more Mexican/Spanish flare than traditional Mexican food.
We have a firm decision on the appetizers that will be served at the cocktail hour. This portion of the meal will consist of a variety of tapas. Tapas, for those of you unfamiliar with Spanish food, are small snacks that come in an assortment of flavors. Josh and I, or Vlad rather, will be serving these several varieties:
• Stuffed tomato
• Artichoke and spinach
• Crimini Mushroom and garlic
• Red onion and orange
• Boneless BBQ ribs
• Spanish ham and cheese croquettes
• Ceviche (shrimp brined in lime juice)
There will also be a paella dish served with the entrees. Paella is another tradition Spanish food item that consists of rice and veggies and/or meat. We have not determined a specific type of paella we will be serving as of yet.
The rest of the entrees are still being discussed but expect flavorful dishes consisting or roasted red and pablano peppers, cilantro, and red wine reductions.
Hope this whets your appetites and gets you excited for the party!
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A few photos
A few photos:
1) The uniform Josh will wear on our wedding day
2) The bridesmaids' bouquets. Imagine all the pink flowers as yellow
3) My engagement ring
4) Centerpieces for the reception
Monday, March 22, 2010
Firm date and reception location
I feel so neglectful I have not written in so long. :-/
I have purchased my wedding dress and, as my mother-in-law to be noticed right away, it was the dress on the top of my list. It has vertical rouching at the top and horizontal/asymmetrical rouching along the bodice. The skirt is “puckered” several times and the train is short to medium length. It is a very pale ivory color. I tried on six dresses before I found the one that encouraged smiles and squeals from all in attendance. I also found a headpiece for $14. It is a matching ivory headband with four delicate flowers along the left side. I loved sharing the day with the women that I am closest too even though a couple of the most special were not able to be there.
Josh and I found out great news last Friday. We got a green light from the Army for the 25th of September. This is an enormous relief for me because without a firm date I felt that I was not making any progress. It was all hypothetical. Now I am in the process of calling all of the vendors and giddily relaying that September 25th is the day that Josh and I will be holding our wedding ceremony.
Also, because of this affirmation, we were able to book Spook Hall in Jerome, AZ for the wedding reception. Spook Hall was the first J C Penney in AZ and is a fun, pastoral building. The hall is really the only place in Jerome equipped for large functions and has held events ranging from Major Lingo concerts (local AZ hippie/ska band) to the 400 attendee, black-tie Copper Bowl. To find out more you can visit www.jeromehistoricalsociety.com.
As a reminder, the wedding ceremony will take place on Mingus Mountain at the Playground Campsite. We have secured Susan Perry as our officiant. She hosts a congregation in Sedona but has performed ceremonies ranging from traditional and religious to pagan handfastings. And, most importantly, she is the officiant who performed my Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim’s wedding in October of 2008. This is yet another sentimental aspect of our wedding that Josh and I are pleased to share with our families.
We have also booked our caterer, Vlad, who owns a New Mexican restaurant in Jerome. He attended the same school in New Mexico as my oldest sister. We continue to accidentally find quirky connections with our service providers but in a way it allows for a rather familial feeling. Vlad, as he likes to refer to himself in the third person, has wonderful suggestions for us and has even offered to gather all rental items for me and to help us with the set-up and decoration of the reception site. We have decided on various tapas for the appetizers and I will be receiving menus ideas from him by the 25th of this month.
Still on the lookout for any cowboy boots that we can borrow :)
I have purchased my wedding dress and, as my mother-in-law to be noticed right away, it was the dress on the top of my list. It has vertical rouching at the top and horizontal/asymmetrical rouching along the bodice. The skirt is “puckered” several times and the train is short to medium length. It is a very pale ivory color. I tried on six dresses before I found the one that encouraged smiles and squeals from all in attendance. I also found a headpiece for $14. It is a matching ivory headband with four delicate flowers along the left side. I loved sharing the day with the women that I am closest too even though a couple of the most special were not able to be there.
Josh and I found out great news last Friday. We got a green light from the Army for the 25th of September. This is an enormous relief for me because without a firm date I felt that I was not making any progress. It was all hypothetical. Now I am in the process of calling all of the vendors and giddily relaying that September 25th is the day that Josh and I will be holding our wedding ceremony.
Also, because of this affirmation, we were able to book Spook Hall in Jerome, AZ for the wedding reception. Spook Hall was the first J C Penney in AZ and is a fun, pastoral building. The hall is really the only place in Jerome equipped for large functions and has held events ranging from Major Lingo concerts (local AZ hippie/ska band) to the 400 attendee, black-tie Copper Bowl. To find out more you can visit www.jeromehistoricalsociety.com.
As a reminder, the wedding ceremony will take place on Mingus Mountain at the Playground Campsite. We have secured Susan Perry as our officiant. She hosts a congregation in Sedona but has performed ceremonies ranging from traditional and religious to pagan handfastings. And, most importantly, she is the officiant who performed my Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim’s wedding in October of 2008. This is yet another sentimental aspect of our wedding that Josh and I are pleased to share with our families.
We have also booked our caterer, Vlad, who owns a New Mexican restaurant in Jerome. He attended the same school in New Mexico as my oldest sister. We continue to accidentally find quirky connections with our service providers but in a way it allows for a rather familial feeling. Vlad, as he likes to refer to himself in the third person, has wonderful suggestions for us and has even offered to gather all rental items for me and to help us with the set-up and decoration of the reception site. We have decided on various tapas for the appetizers and I will be receiving menus ideas from him by the 25th of this month.
Still on the lookout for any cowboy boots that we can borrow :)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Bridal Butterflies
I am buying my wedding dress tomorrow! I still get all giddy inside no matter how many times I say that : )
Josh is bummed out that I refuse to send him any pictures but I think deep down he secretly likes the tradition of not seeing me in it until the day of our wedding.
As usual, I am going into the appointment fully prepared. I have five Must-Try-On dresses and five reserve dresses in case the first five do not suit.
All the dresses can be viewed on www.maggiesottero.com.
The list of five Must-Try-Ons is as follows:
• Dallas Marie
• Holly
• Sabrina
• Adele
• Avalon
The reserve list is:
• Melissa Brooch
• Dakota
• Carrie
• April
• Hunter
The decision will come down to the details of the dress. Some are fuller than others and a couple have beading but all have dramatically rouched bodices and a line skirts. I will post my pick tomorrow…
Josh is bummed out that I refuse to send him any pictures but I think deep down he secretly likes the tradition of not seeing me in it until the day of our wedding.
As usual, I am going into the appointment fully prepared. I have five Must-Try-On dresses and five reserve dresses in case the first five do not suit.
All the dresses can be viewed on www.maggiesottero.com.
The list of five Must-Try-Ons is as follows:
• Dallas Marie
• Holly
• Sabrina
• Adele
• Avalon
The reserve list is:
• Melissa Brooch
• Dakota
• Carrie
• April
• Hunter
The decision will come down to the details of the dress. Some are fuller than others and a couple have beading but all have dramatically rouched bodices and a line skirts. I will post my pick tomorrow…
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Flowers and Decor
My mom and I went to the florist today. This was by far my favorite appointment to date! It was the first time I felt what I am now terming “Bridal Butterflies.” I booked the Prescott Flower Shop which is in town right across from the Fry’s on Miller Valley Road. I find it fulfilling to be using local vendors in my home town. It is so special to me to not use any chain or big box stores, to give back to my local community and the places where Josh and I grew up.
Tammy, our new flower friend from a small town in Northern Georgia - who was very excited to know that Regina’s family is from Tifton - was very helpful and understood completely when I told her I would need to start at Flower 101 and proceed slowly through all courses until commencing to Wedding Flower Proficiency.
We started with the very basics, the wedding colors: Navy, Olive and Buttercup and that my favorite flower is the Calla Lily. We ended with a FANTASTIC crescent-shaped (big) bridal bouquet consisting of deep blue Delphinium and Anemones, yellow Mini Calla Lilies, white Stephanotis, and green Seeded Eucalyptus. The bridesmaids’ bouquets are more informal with a wildflower-type look. They are FULL hand-tied bouquets incorporating the same Delphinium and Anemones. However, instead of the Callas, the bouquets include blue and yellow Irises, pale yellow Snapdragons, and one big, yellow Gerbera Daisy. The fathers’ boutonnieres and mothers’ corsages will be two of the yellow Mini Callas with a sprig of the Delphinium. I can’t stop smiling thinking of them they all were so beautiful. Even Josh responded excitedly to the long-distance, ancillary picture messages and was happy that I came in $400 under budget.
I decided against any flowers for the ceremony site as we will be in a clearing surrounded by Ponderosa and Piñon Pines and beautiful views. I will however, have rose petals delineating the aisle. We will use the bouquets for decoration on the head table at the reception cite.
The décor for the reception cite will incorporate both the western theme and the military colors. My mom has been volunteered (by me :P ) to sew the table cloths/runners which will be made of 100% cotton, blue and yellow toile www.fabricguru.com. On top of the toile, we will place old, scuffed up cowboy boots that we will scour goodwill and other thrift stores for. I would like to find all different shapes and sizes of boots the more beat up the better. If any of you have pairs that you would not mind donating to the cause, please let me know. We will place blue and yellow wild flowers inside the boots to complete the centerpieces. The napkins will be olive green and we found horseshoe charms – for good luck - to use for the napkin rings.
I am starting to get super excited all of the sudden and everything is really coming together, cheaply I might add : )
Saturday is dress day.
Many more Bridal Butterflies to come!
Tammy, our new flower friend from a small town in Northern Georgia - who was very excited to know that Regina’s family is from Tifton - was very helpful and understood completely when I told her I would need to start at Flower 101 and proceed slowly through all courses until commencing to Wedding Flower Proficiency.
We started with the very basics, the wedding colors: Navy, Olive and Buttercup and that my favorite flower is the Calla Lily. We ended with a FANTASTIC crescent-shaped (big) bridal bouquet consisting of deep blue Delphinium and Anemones, yellow Mini Calla Lilies, white Stephanotis, and green Seeded Eucalyptus. The bridesmaids’ bouquets are more informal with a wildflower-type look. They are FULL hand-tied bouquets incorporating the same Delphinium and Anemones. However, instead of the Callas, the bouquets include blue and yellow Irises, pale yellow Snapdragons, and one big, yellow Gerbera Daisy. The fathers’ boutonnieres and mothers’ corsages will be two of the yellow Mini Callas with a sprig of the Delphinium. I can’t stop smiling thinking of them they all were so beautiful. Even Josh responded excitedly to the long-distance, ancillary picture messages and was happy that I came in $400 under budget.
I decided against any flowers for the ceremony site as we will be in a clearing surrounded by Ponderosa and Piñon Pines and beautiful views. I will however, have rose petals delineating the aisle. We will use the bouquets for decoration on the head table at the reception cite.
The décor for the reception cite will incorporate both the western theme and the military colors. My mom has been volunteered (by me :P ) to sew the table cloths/runners which will be made of 100% cotton, blue and yellow toile www.fabricguru.com. On top of the toile, we will place old, scuffed up cowboy boots that we will scour goodwill and other thrift stores for. I would like to find all different shapes and sizes of boots the more beat up the better. If any of you have pairs that you would not mind donating to the cause, please let me know. We will place blue and yellow wild flowers inside the boots to complete the centerpieces. The napkins will be olive green and we found horseshoe charms – for good luck - to use for the napkin rings.
I am starting to get super excited all of the sudden and everything is really coming together, cheaply I might add : )
Saturday is dress day.
Many more Bridal Butterflies to come!
Monday, March 08, 2010
Chugging Right Along
I have a busy week of wedding planning this week with five appointments total. The first of which took place today at the forest service in Camp Verde, AZ. There I met with my new best camping friend Tom who gave me the skinny on all the great sites on Mingus. I have chosen to go ahead and rent the Playground Campsite which can be found online at www.reserveamerica.com. I am going to fudge the numbers a bit and reserve the site for fifty people instead of 80 which knocks the fee down fifty bucks (yes, I am that cheap). My new friend Tom agrees with me on this and since he is the forest guru, I’m gonna go for it.
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day with three appointments. First thing I get to pick up my engagement ring which, if you ask my mother or my sister, has been one of the only things I can talk about lately. If this is the only instance where my familial obsession rears I will be extremely happy; but, by even thinking that thought, I am already obsessing about obsessing so I know that just won’t happen… After picking up my ring, my mother-in law and sister-in law are meeting me to join in my appointment with the photographer www.elainemariephotography.com After which, we will head to Jerome, AZ to meet with the owner of the Grand Hotel to talk reception details.
I am hoping that Wednesday will be a relaxing day off of wedding stuff where I intend to call Tim’s and inquire about the $5,100 they owe me and also pick up some kitty Valium so that Gunner can fly on the airplane to Alaska with me.
Thursday is florist day and also the day my Matron of Honor finds out the sex of her baby!!!! My mom and I will head to Prescott Flower Shop at 4:00 and then to dinner with Jessie and her family directly after. Its going to be magical. Any ideas on saving money on the flowers would be greatly appreciated!
As of now, Friday’s schedule looks to be empty but hopefully I can jam it full of officiants and get that detail handled as well.
Saturday is Dress Day!!! I have an appointment at I Do I Do wedding boutique at 7th St and Camelback at 10:00AM. The designer I am interested in is Maggie Sottero and her entire line can be found at www.maggiesottero.com I am ditching the idea of a veil but hope that there will be another headpiece type thing that I will like at this boutique. Also, I want to find a really pretty garter. Most of my bridal party and the wonderful women in my family will be with me to pick “the dress” so I am sure there will be lots of laughing and snorting and tears. We will be sure to take pictures.
I will update as I go along. Its going well so far.
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day with three appointments. First thing I get to pick up my engagement ring which, if you ask my mother or my sister, has been one of the only things I can talk about lately. If this is the only instance where my familial obsession rears I will be extremely happy; but, by even thinking that thought, I am already obsessing about obsessing so I know that just won’t happen… After picking up my ring, my mother-in law and sister-in law are meeting me to join in my appointment with the photographer www.elainemariephotography.com After which, we will head to Jerome, AZ to meet with the owner of the Grand Hotel to talk reception details.
I am hoping that Wednesday will be a relaxing day off of wedding stuff where I intend to call Tim’s and inquire about the $5,100 they owe me and also pick up some kitty Valium so that Gunner can fly on the airplane to Alaska with me.
Thursday is florist day and also the day my Matron of Honor finds out the sex of her baby!!!! My mom and I will head to Prescott Flower Shop at 4:00 and then to dinner with Jessie and her family directly after. Its going to be magical. Any ideas on saving money on the flowers would be greatly appreciated!
As of now, Friday’s schedule looks to be empty but hopefully I can jam it full of officiants and get that detail handled as well.
Saturday is Dress Day!!! I have an appointment at I Do I Do wedding boutique at 7th St and Camelback at 10:00AM. The designer I am interested in is Maggie Sottero and her entire line can be found at www.maggiesottero.com I am ditching the idea of a veil but hope that there will be another headpiece type thing that I will like at this boutique. Also, I want to find a really pretty garter. Most of my bridal party and the wonderful women in my family will be with me to pick “the dress” so I am sure there will be lots of laughing and snorting and tears. We will be sure to take pictures.
I will update as I go along. Its going well so far.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Initial details
My apologies for the tardiness of this first post.
It is my intention to add pictures of Josh and me to our blog but, as is my first encounter with the difficulties of wedding planning, I cannot muster a call back from our engagement photographer to receive a disc of our images. This has not only delayed the Orlando-Lawton wedding blog but has also postponed the announcing of our engagement in our local newspapers. I have called several times to no avail. I am about to take a cue from my mother who with her oh so pleasant but firm demeanor never fails to get a scenario resolved in her favor.
The purpose of this blog is to provide any and all information of the Orlando-Lawton wedding to family, friends, or members of the general public that may get off on the pain and suffering of a woman planning a wedding in six months.
Our blog’s title represents Josh and me as it is a quote from one of “our movies” Sweet Home Alabama. When the male lead is asked why he wants to get married he responds with: “So I can kiss you anytime I want.” This is a quote that Josh and I have used over and over again in our relationship and it will be worked into our vows.
This blog is also a visual representation of the wedding as our color scheme is the very Army inspired Navy, Buttercup, and Olive drab. As Joshua is a Cav Scout, a modern-day take on the Cavalry (yes - the buffalo soldiers, horses, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon - Cavalry) we are shooting for a western theme. The wedding will not be formal. And, since there will be plenty of dancing, we are stating that guest attire may be very nice jeans/wrangles and western type shirts. However, I do not see the members of my family dressing so. Therefore, slacks and polos will be allowed. : )
The wedding date is of course at the Army’s discretion but we are shooting for the weekend of September 24th – 26th . We will know the exact date within two weeks. We hope to have the rehearsal dinner on the night of Friday the 24th at The Asylum restaurant in Jerome, Arizona. We would like the ceremony to take place on Mingus Mountain the afternoon of the 25th with the reception to follow at The Asylum/Grand Hotel and the family brunch will take place Sunday morning, again at The Asylum. Rooms will be blocked off at the Grand Hotel in Jerome as well as an as of yet undetermined cheaper option.
We intend to have five attendants each with Jessica Hall as my Matron of Honor and with Josh’s brother James as his best man. This number may fluctuate as the men standing up for Josh are all in the military and something may inevitably “come up” that would hinder their attendance. The groomsmen will all be dressed in their Army Greens except for Jay who will wear his Marine Corps dress uniform. The bridal party will be dressed in buttercup, tea-length dresses with brown cowboy boots (the boots will be the bridesmaids’ gifts from me).
There are of course many more details to come. I will be posting every couple of days with the latest information; although, the posts may be tainted with my rambling as this blog will also serve as my emotional catch-all/ venting place during the planning process.
If you have not already, please check out our engagement photos at www.benjemax.com.
Click on ‘view online proofs’
User name: marissa
Password: josh
It is my intention to add pictures of Josh and me to our blog but, as is my first encounter with the difficulties of wedding planning, I cannot muster a call back from our engagement photographer to receive a disc of our images. This has not only delayed the Orlando-Lawton wedding blog but has also postponed the announcing of our engagement in our local newspapers. I have called several times to no avail. I am about to take a cue from my mother who with her oh so pleasant but firm demeanor never fails to get a scenario resolved in her favor.
The purpose of this blog is to provide any and all information of the Orlando-Lawton wedding to family, friends, or members of the general public that may get off on the pain and suffering of a woman planning a wedding in six months.
Our blog’s title represents Josh and me as it is a quote from one of “our movies” Sweet Home Alabama. When the male lead is asked why he wants to get married he responds with: “So I can kiss you anytime I want.” This is a quote that Josh and I have used over and over again in our relationship and it will be worked into our vows.
This blog is also a visual representation of the wedding as our color scheme is the very Army inspired Navy, Buttercup, and Olive drab. As Joshua is a Cav Scout, a modern-day take on the Cavalry (yes - the buffalo soldiers, horses, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon - Cavalry) we are shooting for a western theme. The wedding will not be formal. And, since there will be plenty of dancing, we are stating that guest attire may be very nice jeans/wrangles and western type shirts. However, I do not see the members of my family dressing so. Therefore, slacks and polos will be allowed. : )
The wedding date is of course at the Army’s discretion but we are shooting for the weekend of September 24th – 26th . We will know the exact date within two weeks. We hope to have the rehearsal dinner on the night of Friday the 24th at The Asylum restaurant in Jerome, Arizona. We would like the ceremony to take place on Mingus Mountain the afternoon of the 25th with the reception to follow at The Asylum/Grand Hotel and the family brunch will take place Sunday morning, again at The Asylum. Rooms will be blocked off at the Grand Hotel in Jerome as well as an as of yet undetermined cheaper option.
We intend to have five attendants each with Jessica Hall as my Matron of Honor and with Josh’s brother James as his best man. This number may fluctuate as the men standing up for Josh are all in the military and something may inevitably “come up” that would hinder their attendance. The groomsmen will all be dressed in their Army Greens except for Jay who will wear his Marine Corps dress uniform. The bridal party will be dressed in buttercup, tea-length dresses with brown cowboy boots (the boots will be the bridesmaids’ gifts from me).
There are of course many more details to come. I will be posting every couple of days with the latest information; although, the posts may be tainted with my rambling as this blog will also serve as my emotional catch-all/ venting place during the planning process.
If you have not already, please check out our engagement photos at www.benjemax.com.
Click on ‘view online proofs’
User name: marissa
Password: josh
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