Friday, September 24, 2010

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

Friday, September 17, 2010

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!

Monday, September 13, 2010

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!