To Receive Or Not To Receive

I have moved on to the receiving line debate. Instead of telling you the story I’m giving you the pro and con list! (yes, another list!)

Receiving Line Pros:

• You get to greet and hug every guest at least once
• You are not obligated to seek out guests to make sure you have spoken to everyone
• Yeah….that’s all I got….
  

Receiving Line Cons:

• You have to greet and hug every guest at least once
• I hate excess hugging!!
• It takes and average of 20 seconds per person. 20 seconds times over 200 people. That’s over and hour folks – Do you want to stand in line that long?
• In that time we could be sitting, eating, dancing just about anything other than standing in a line!
  

I have several more but it would probably be inappropriate with our mixed audience.

--Laura

Hotel information

Here is some important information for you out-of-town guests.

There are hotel rooms available at:

[The New] Residence Inn by Marriott (Opening the end of September)
517 West Central Entrance
Duluth, MN 55811-5447
(218) 279-2885
1-800-331-3131
Please reference the following information when you are making your reservation.

MINI-HOTEL CODE: LBW ~ Use this when calling in the reservations (1.800.331.3131)

ONINE BOOKING CODES: ~ Use this when making online reservations

STDO LBWLBWA $129.00 ~ Studio Suite W/Full Kitchen

ONBR LBWLBWC $159.00 ~ One Bedroom Suite W/Full Kitchen

TOBR LBWLBWD $169.00 ~ Two Bedroom Suite W/Full Kitchen

Please note that you will not be able to make reservations by calling the hotel’s direct line at the hotel until after September 23, 2010. Until then please make your reservations online or by calling 1-800-331-3131



There are also rooms at the

Radisson Hotel Duluth Harborview
505 W. Superior Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
(218) 727-8981
1-800-395-7046

Let Laura know if you have any questions or are having issues making a reservation!

Audrey II

My biggest stress on the forefront of my mind lately has been “The Schedule”. This isn’t just the “day of schedule” but a schedule from Tuesday the 5th through Saturday the 9th. And we are not talking just one schedule for me to follow. We are talking a schedule for each and every person and detail involved! Flowers, cake, caterer, linens, decorations, tables, dresses, make-up, tuxes, pictures….and the list keeps getting bigger. The list reminds me of Audrey II on the Little Shop of Horrors. You feed it just a little, and then all of a sudden it doubles in size!

Why am I so freaked out about a couple of lists? Well, for one, we didn’t hire a wedding planner to keep the schedule and events flowing. So, I need a detailed plan of events so no matter how forgetful the person, everyone should know where everyone else should be and at what time. And WHEN something goes wrong everyone will know where to pick up and keep the night moving, But without a list they would be a lot of aimless wondering.

Also, we (family and friends) will be doing all the set up work. This is not as easy as it may sound. The lighting will be very interesting. My dad is putting all lighting together for us. Though I fully trust his electrical capabilities, so many things can go wrong—the bulbs burn out, a circuit is blown, etc. Luckily, we do get a head start on the Wednesday before the wedding.

Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. will be the rehearsal and Groom’s Dinner, which gives us minimal time for set up Friday morning. Again, 100% of the set up will be done by the poor saps that volunteered to help! (Thanks guys!) And the only time we can set up tables (including, linens, place settings, and decorations) is Friday morning from 8:30 to 12:00…cutting it close!

I feel like I am orchestrating an event for 1,000 people. We’re at 225, that’s close!

Will They Even Notice?

These centerpieces are the bane of my existence!
Sure, I know what I would love, but unfortunately, what I want will be roughly $200 per table. That’s not going to happen.

I think I have “made up my mind” at least eight times, (poor Tom) but of course three days later I hate the look!

I found another option, it will work, but I can’t figure out exactly how to execute the look. All the flowers are special orders (I can’t just pick up a few testers at Cub) and I can’t find the silk flowers that will really pull the look together. All the while having the worst imagination ever (I do my inner five year old shame) I can not picture how my ideas, color, objects, etc. will meld.

So, if you find yourself at my wedding looking at a empty table, you’ll know I had a melt down and went with the “minimalist” look. (Or at least that's what we'll tell everyone!)

-L

Little Dress Shoppe of Horrors

Oh what a mess! Angela, Jeana, and I went dress shopping. I tried on a few wedding dress, and of course, rather than narrow the prospects down we added two to the list!
I had the girls try on a few dresses…okay like 20. It is really important for the dresses to not look like the typical bridesmaids dress. If I’m going to ask several friends to drop several hundred dollars on a dress I would like them to wear it more than once!

We found it! The perfect dress! It’s a lovely dress that met all of my specifications and it looks great on all body types. My heart is set and I tell all of my MOH’s that we have the dress we’ll order in one month.

“The dress is discontinued” said the lady across the counter. Back to square one!

Much to Angela’s chagrin, I put off dress shopping for several months. Every couple of weeks Angela reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that the wedding was fast approaching and we needed to get dresses ordered. “Yes, ma’am.”

Finding a dress to meet my high expectations was no easy feat. I had a long list of specifications that must be met. Hours were spent scouring the internet looking for dresses that would fit the bill…both literally and figuratively.

Angela and I went to a local dress shop to find this illusive dress. “Maybe, no way, definite maybe, NO!, yes, I like that, who would design a dress like THAT?, Oh that’s nice, ew, eh, I’m not showing you this one!” And then, there is was, the dress! “Oh, it’s perfect!” The dress that met all of my specifications and it comes in the perfect color. I am very excited to have “adventure” behind me!

Missing?

Hey!

If you want to here a specific story or you think something is missing, let us know! We’ll be happy to fill in the blanks!

Tom and Laura

Let Them Eat Cake!

For my nephew’s baby shower my Aunt made the most amazing fresh carrot cake bars with whipped cream cheese frosting. One thing you should know about me is that I am not a fan of sweets. Sure occasionally I’ll have a sweet tooth, but never “MUST HAVE SWEETS”.

The first bite in to these bars was life changing. They are deceptively heavy, moist, mind-bogglingly delicious….Ahhh my words will never do it justice! Tom and I took some leftovers home. We literally fought over last bite…it wasn’t pretty.

When I tasted these bars, I knew instantly that these bars would be made into a cake and served at my wedding - come hell, or high water.

My dear guests that do not like carrot cake, I ask that you step outside your non carrot cake eating world and allow my Aunts master piece to take you to a euphoria you have yet to experience.

-Laura