Menu Tasting

Firstly, thanks! to Steph C for using my LivingSocial link!! Okay, business:

I haven't had a chance to sit down and post for a few days, but this past weekend, we went back to our venue to have a menu tasting. Now, I have already kicked myself repeatedly for not bringing a camera, because the food was indeed pretty for wedding food. But no matter, I'm not going to spend too too much time on it anyway, so you're not missing anything.

Anywho... it was great! We were so pleasantly surprised! I mean, it wasn't gourmet 'I've died and gone to heaven' food, but it was much better than I expected. The salad was actually the highlight... who knew?! The veggies weren't too crisp or too soggy, the meat wasn't too tough or dry or too well done, I think we made good menu choices as everything was... not as stereotypical as one would expect of wedding food. Although, maybe chicken Chesapeake is kinda' stereotypical, but I love it, and so does Kyle, so get over it. Nothing was over- or under-seasoned, except for the au gratin potatoes, and so we changed that menu item, but that was the only thing we had to complain about! Which surprised me!! My parents went with us which was really nice because they know how to be honest without being mean or rolling over. I'm one or the other extreme; If I like something, I'll have a really hard time disagreeing with anything about it, but if I don't like or care about something, I will put it down very quickly and firmly, and kinda meanly... or so Kyle says.

Point is, we almost have our entire menu worked out, my parents and Kyle have encouraged me to cut a few hors d'oeuvres because we had five or something ridiculous like that; seeing as our coordinator Maureen served us only half portions of our meal and I was stuffed, I tend to agree with them.

On another note, my mom, Mia and I went dress shopping one. last. time. I will not dwell on this because I have spent sooooo much time on it in the past, but I just wanted to show my mom the David's Bridal Vera Wang dresses before I bought one. (Oh! side note, I mailed out a large box with my Vera Wang sample gown in it on Monday. It was just icing on the cake to be free of it! Yay!!) Now I am remembering why I was waiting to post: My mom took some nostalgia pictures of me in the Vera Wang Diana before it was mailed out, and Mia took some pictures of me in the new David's Bridal Vera gowns and neither of them have e-mailed me these pictures. Seeing as I've been busy this week, I am in no way scolding... but okay, now e-mail them to me... please... pretty please.

Until then, Kyle, go away, here are the two, the last two that I'm debating between:

I didn't think it would come down to this, because the one of the right has a much smoother bodice, something I didn't think I wanted BUT, it looked fantastic and the little ruching details were really cool and I love the one-shoulder and the skirt organza feels and looks smoother and more expensive than on the left hand dress. Weird considering they cost the same. HOWEVER, the raw, sort of gauzy looking organza on the left hand dress is the same as on the original Diana gown... I went right home and checked: the left hand dress is more true to Vera's original vision, AND would fit more into our raw, organic wedding. BUT, I also understand, and my mom felt, that I looked a little more polished in the one-shoulder, and like I said, it did look great and was very flattering. So amazingly, I'm back in some agonizing debate! After all this! I'm stuck again! I don't think this will be a particularly difficult decision, but it's still kind of a pain, that I thought I was done and now... I need to pick: the sleek, sexy, silky one that doesn't really fit my theme, or the less polished, but more raw, kinda' scrappy one that does?

Mia suggested I put it to a vote and while I'd love to hear any ideas, comments and/or suggestions, you should all know me by now enough to know I do not leave any decisions up to anyone else... ever. So I'm going to get the dress in two weeks (the earliest I can spare time for the drive). As in this decision will get made, no matter what! In two week's time!! And THEN, you'll never have to hear about it again, I promise.

Riverdale Visit and Color, REvisited

SOOoooooOO, Kyle and I went to Riverdale Manor this weekend and met with Maureen. Kyle thought she was nicer than most of the other wedding coordinators and felt the place had the most promise. I completely agree with him and am very happy he is happy with the decision. I'd also rather not have to kiss $800 of my parents money goodbye!

We also talked about the menu whilst there, and we have a tentative menu set up:

Display Hors D'ouerves:
Crab and Artichoke Fondue (mmmmmm)
Fruit, Veggie, and Cheese Display (standard)
Butlered Hors D'ouerves:
Ham-stuffed cheddar scones
Brie and Pear Quesadillas
Bruschetta

Salad: Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Entree: Choose between Filet of Beef and Chicken Chesapeake
Vegetarian option: Roasted Baby Acorn Squash stuffed with roasted veggies
Children's option: TBA, but there will be one
Sides: Roasted veggies and Potatoes Au Gratin

Dessert:
Our wedding cake and an ice cream bar

Be excited!!! Now, it's still very early so this whole menu is subject to change. But it's exciting because things are happening!! I've been reading a million blogs, writing down all my ideas, and generally having more fun thinking about it than should be allowed. I'm maybe supposed to be feeling overwhelmed?? But I'm not, but I'm sure the whole, 14 months to wait is helping with that. I still have a lot of time to think about what needs to get done; what vendors I need and what I plan to DIY.

I wanted to provide an update on color though!! I talked to Kyle and he had pretty strong ideas about color. He hated the teal and normally I would have demanded more explanation from him but again, any little bit that he wants to help, I'm totally open to it. And he has so few objections that I don't mind accommodating the ones he does have; if Kyle hates to look at teal, why would I want to force him to stare at teal-colored stuff all night?! I wouldn't!! If I was at all decent!!

He likes a light blue, and originally, I was against it because it's the same color as the sky, but again, I have to keep telling myself, 'Even if you manage to be able to do the ceremony outside in late November, the ceremony is only 30  minutes long!! The blue is for adding a splash of color to the reception!' So Light blue it is, I refuse to call it baby blue, and I've chosen a shade that looks almost steely blue, as opposed to say, a cornflower blue. When teal went out the window, orange had to go with it, especially because burnt orange is too garish next to light blue... I think. When you mix the deep wine/plum/whatever-you-call-it color I love so much with the chocolate brown that I would like the groomsmen to wear, orange has no place anymore either. So the whole color scheme is slightly revised, but I believe it's completely for the better. The whole thing has been elevated to a muted, rustic, comfortable feel, and I think that suits Kyle and I better. To let you in on what I'm thinking, I am scanning in the color pallet chart I threw together yesterday before visiting Maureen (in case she wanted to see a color scheme... which she DID!! Which I HAD!! Which I SHOWED HER!! Which she LOVED!!! so she said...) But I am going to rescan it when I have had a chance to make it prettier. I just felt it would be cruel to go on and one talking about it and not show it to you!!

So, quick explanation then, the yarn is my initial inspiration, found at a cute little yarn shop in Philly, on the right is the groom's party colors: brown suits, off-white linen shirts, blue ties. Bridal party: bordeaux dresses... that's as far as I've gone, it's just next to the brown to see if it matches.
Also pictured, two shades of blue (try to figure out which is my favorite and which is Kyle's!!) and two shades of the deep purple.
Lastly in the middle, is the tan color I think I want for tablecloths.

MORE LATER!!!