So yeah. I was just a wee bit giddy at work today. As soon as my boss came in, I showed her my hand and she knew what had happened. 
Later I was telling the office manager, and as I backed out of her office, I managed to step on the foot of the big boss! Oops. The office manager told him my big news, and he congratulated me.
I *think* I have set the date for May 7 or 8. None of the people we'll be inviting have small children, so I don't think it being on Mother's Day weekend will be too big of an issue.
I told Mr. FT he can be in charge of planning the honeymoon. I gave him some ideas of what sounds interesting/fun to me, but also said I'd be happy doing whatever. Most likely it will be a road trip to somewhere within a reasonable/long day's drive.
Possible places discussed - Branson, Gatlinburg, Florida, CA (not in a day's drive ...)
We have our guest list already pretty well hashed out. His quasi-relative who came out to meet him last year for the first time has said she'd like an invite. That makes me happy because it'll give his "side" a bit more people.
He has someone here he can ask to be his best man. I'm in a bit of a quandary about MOH. The three people I had always kind of thought would be my bridesmaids ... well, although I still consider them friends, they're really more of close acquaintances at this point. So ... I'm thinking of asking his sister. I don't really know her very well either, but I do like her.
One thing I am wondering about is what to do about the people you know won't actually come, but would feel slighted if you didn't send them an invitation. Do I just send them an invitation and wait for the no thanks, or ... send an announcement?
One of my acquaintance/friends definitely couldn't afford to come. But I'd still like to send her an invitation. But I don't want to make her feel bad ..
Oy!
I'm contemplating something like this ...
Saturday evening rehearsal dinner (probably would be just about everyone invited .. except a few locals.) Have haystacks (although beans before the big day might not be such a good idea... maybe spaghetti and french bread ..)
Sunday morning have the ceremony around 10:30 or 11:00 and then either have a brunch buffet (depending on location) or have a catered Chinese buffet (one of the local restaurants.) NE LOVES Chinese buffet food, so that would be good for him.
Although ... I want my wedding cake to be a cheesecake. I don't know how well cheesecake goes with Chinese food. Hmm...
As for the cake(s) - I'm thinking a cheesecake and a small white? cake from one of the local supermarket bakeries. There's a local grocery store's cake that NE loves - the white? kind. Just have one layer of each (separate.)
We're only going to have maybe 20 to max 25 people, so don't want to overkill the cake.
I also want Mexican Wedding Cookies (or whatever other names they go by.) I LOVE those.
As far as place ... am thinking of either my church, and then use the upstairs dining hall (clear plastic plates and plastic ware, etc.)
Or ... a local bed and breakfast place. I'm not sure if we could do a Sunday wedding there or not - they do advertise a Sunday morning brunch.
Or ... some other historical location type thing, and then drive to a restaurant where we reserve a room.
Flowers - keeping very simple. A single rose for MOH, and a small bouquet for me.
Attire - Mr. FT - I think I'm going to have him get a pair of nice black dress pants and a tuxedo shirt.
My dress - My aunt has offered to pay for my dress/veil/shoes etc. At first this made me think - I can get THE DRESS (if it's still there.) But then I started to think, do I really want to spend that much on A dress that I'll never be able to wear again?
So ... I found a dress on Amazon that I like. I ordered two in different sizes (free return shipping.) $39.95. If it works, then I'm going to ask my aunt if instead of the dress, would she be willing to pay part of a photographer costs.
I had been thinking that maybe I'd rent out this one bed and breakfast place where I'd like the ceremony to be. But then I added up the cost of ten rooms x two nights ... and ... nope, that won't work.
So my next idea is to call around to some of the area hotels and see what kind of a discount rate they could give me for booking ten rooms. Then I can tell people the discount code to ask for.
Invitations - maybe use Vista Print, or just print out my own on my printer?
I need to probably send out Save the Date notes or something soon. Since it's mostly family, I could just do it with a phone call??
Anyway, that's about as far as I've gotten in thinking/scheming right now.
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Obviously, January being a no spend month is probably not going to work out too well. I am going to keep it as a January Well Thought Out Spending Only month.
On Cloud 9 :) (2 of 2)
January 16th, 2016 at 03:58 am
January 16th, 2016 at 05:33 am 1452922406
January 16th, 2016 at 05:59 am 1452923960
Don't wish to be indelicate but spaghetti or one of the pasta entrees is a better choice. Some people react poorly to beans. Chinese buffet sounds unique, how does it compare cost-wise to other choices? Cheese cake is always delicious and easily decorated as Grooms cake,' supporting traditional looking Wedding cake. The topper is ridiculously expensive, can you borrow one
January 16th, 2016 at 01:22 pm 1452950550
We planned our wedding in 4 months and it was no big deal. But we had chosen a Sunday which I think helped with the short time frame. No one was booked up on such short notice. (& I mean if we just started to plan 4 months ahead, lord knows when I actually chose the venue/date and got around to hiring everyone else). May things go as easy and smooth for you!
January 16th, 2016 at 05:15 pm 1452964546
I'll also jump on the electronic invitation bandwagon. We didn't do that (mostly because my MIL wouldn't have gone along with it), but it's a great cost (and headache) saver. If not, printing at home can look nice - but it can often be a pain as well. Vistaprint does a nice job, and they have some nice looking templates already built in.
Good luck and have fun planning!
January 16th, 2016 at 07:26 pm 1452972413
January 16th, 2016 at 07:43 pm 1452973390
Snafu - Thanks! I know who'd I like to be the officiant - an uncle of mine, but he's still in Cyprus right now. Once he's back in the States I'll be contacting him.
I like that - call first, and then send an email confirmation. I found a site called Paperless Post where I could send out Save the Date cards for free (and invitations too I think.)
I haven't started looking at prices yet for food. Haystacks would easily be the cheapest .. but as you said ..
MM - That's part of why I was thinking of a Sunday morning. Much better liklihood of getting a venue and vendors on short notice, plus possibly for cheaper. Thanks!
PJmama- I'm really thinking the electronic invitations are the way to go. I don't even have addresses for some of the people I'd want to send one too! (I have their emails or they're on FB.) Thanks!
Ima - It does seem like a good month to get married in.
January 16th, 2016 at 08:19 pm 1452975564
January 16th, 2016 at 09:02 pm 1452978174
I do see what you're saying. If I do printed ones, I'd want to keep them super simple. I need to see what Vista Print has to offer, and what it would cost for 15 or so invitations..
January 17th, 2016 at 02:04 am 1452996272
January 18th, 2016 at 03:57 pm 1453132652
January 18th, 2016 at 09:12 pm 1453151523
CB - Yep, I've decided against that. I'm going with pizza and rootbeer floats instead.