the girls...

Wow! I have really managed to get a LOT of the wedding planning knocked out.. kinda... One thing that is driving me INSANE is the fact that the point of contact at the venue is a slow responder. PET PEEVE! I hate when people do not respond to me with in a reasonable time frame.
Any who, here is where I am in the process...
Save the Date video, scheduled..
Dress.. CHECK!!! Will be complete Feb, 1~ and it is not one from her website!! top secret shit going on here.
Ceremony location and decor... check.. LOTS OF DIY to get busy on..
Cocktail hour location .. check.. decor.. not so checked
Dinner location check.. decor half check.. another MASS DIY situation.
problem I have.. linens.. even though I do linen rentals.. I want something I can not find.. therefore.. I must make them all myself, including napkins. But I knew this going into the wedding planning which is why I am getting the vendors knocked out quickly so I can sew for the rest of the year..
I know, I know.. some may be thinking.. I thought you said this will not be your everyday average wedding. Well hold your panties on! IT WON"T BE! but I do want people to still know it is a wedding! There will be a ceremony, and a cocktail hour and a dinner. That is all you need to know right now. It will also be fabulous!
Now.. onto what I am working on tonight.. The girl's attire.. I knew I wanted a small wedding all together. So it only makes sense to have the three most important people in my lives to be standing with me for my wedding. So my oldest daughter Raven will be Maid of Honor, my youngest daughter Chey will be a bridesmaid and my sister LaNaya will be a bridesmaid as well. Since my gown is being made by Chrissy Wai-Ching it only makes sense to have my girls made by her as well. I am going for this one.

The only thing I will change will be the colors. They will all have different colors that coordinate with my colorful gown :) I am sure Chrissy will shit when I ask her to make this for an 8 year old.. lol. I may make some adjustments on Chey's so it will be more age appropriate. But either way I think these dresses are fantastic!
What's left to book...
DJ..
Officiant
Cake
Maybe stationery.. I may DIY that as well, but not sure yet.
Caterer

Must send florist contract.. problem. I am not sure if we will have any flowers!

Irritation #1

One thing I hate more then anything is having to wait to hear back from a vendor. This applies to my job as well as my wedding. I mean 24 hours, yeah ok, but days, absolutely not. It drives me INSANE!
So, when Shane and I toured Boost, we knew right away that we wanted it. I mean we would have signed a contract right then and there. The thing is they do not know what is going on. Cincinnati is getting an f'n casino pretty much across the block from Boost which will be taking their parking and quite frankly they do not know if they will move or not. This bothers me a little but after talking to the Boost person, she said she would put together a proposal for the venue. Well it has been two weeks and we have heard nothing! Also when I first contacted them to set up a tour, it took days to get a response. I hate that! Boost has everything we could want in a venue, but I am not willing to be irritated by lack of communication.
Therefore, I set up a tour of Venue 222. I have never been there but I do know that I need a back up plan now. Not 6 months down the road.  So far I love the fact that I sent a request for info and Cecilia responded with in minutes. Also, Cecelia is a well know wedding coordinator in this area, so that is perfect also.
So more or less, we are touring Venue 222 and I am crossing fingers that it will accommodate our needs and wants.

Things you will NOT see....

at our wedding..
So now that I have been engaged for going on 3 weeks.. ha.. I have heard this at least 50 times. "well since you are a wedding planner this will be easy for you. You probably already know what your wedding will be like."Ummmmm... that answer is a great big mother f'n NO!
Really the only advantage I have is that I know what vendors I will use. Yes, that is huge. I realize that many brides and boyz research vendors forever. So really that is my only "woo hoo I am a wedding planner" moment. I have seen the awesome and i have seen the god forsaken terrible shit.
I have not sat around since I was 4 planning my own wedding. I have other people's weddings to plan. Not mine. Vision... ummm nope.. Urban.. that is all.. But a comfy fun urban.. not a cold stiff wedding urban. Whatever......
So over the years I have seen some great weddings. AMAZING weddings. True reflections of the couple and their style. I have to say that I am GOOD, if not F'n AWESOME at getting a strange couple in my creative zone and nailing out their wedding in pretty much a day. I can do that.... I can figure out their style, their look, the entire wedding decor down to what they will wear in minimal time. BUT my wedding.. GRRRRRRRR.. I am at a big fat block. Got nothing! Not a single frickin' idea. How stupidly lame is that. Is all I can think of are the things that will not come within a mile of my wedding. I don't want to see them anywhere near my shit. so here is my list..

1. MONOGRAM.. I am monogramed to death. I don't want to see a f'n monogram anywhere within the vicinity of my wedding, reception, ride to wherever we go, ect... NO MONOGRAMS!
2. Monochromatic anything..
3. black with a pop of color .. F U pop of color
4. Candy bar
5. salad, meal, cake.. hmmm.. i dunno.. i am tired of it
6. cocktail hours are starting to irritate me, but I like the idea... need to work on this one.
7. Bachelorette parties. NO please!!!
8. any posed photos! NO WAY!
9. Aisle Runner.. god help me and that suck ass tape they put on those things. WTF.. do they think that shit works?
10. Traditional guest book or photo mat.  I do have a bad ass idea for this situation though.. Lips r sealed though.... ****cue demonic laughter****
11. a theme.. god damnit. I am so sick of hearing the word theme when the word wedding is mentioned. When i hear theme I think of kids birthday party. How about design, or style.. I like those words better.
12. favors.. GOD! google the words "wedding favor" you will see what I mean.
13. garter and bouquet toss, unless this is something the boi is dead set on doing. I would not like to do it.
14. any dance with the word money in it. Good Lord, really people get some class.
15. The title of being a "knottie" Since I am a vendor I guess that will never happen anyways but I am ever so glad.
16. White gown
17. Matchy McMatcherson brides maid dresses.. Nope
18. Cannon in D
19. Sucky wedding reception music
20. Seating chart. Please stop making these. They are a nightmare when you have more than 50 guest.

That is probably enough. Sorry to anyone doing these things at their wedding. I am a firm believer in your wedding should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. And these are the things we are not. That much i DO know. :)