Interwebs. Interwebs good...

I've been trying to describe or express how excited I have become about today's technological advances in the way of picture stuff as it pertains to online stuff. Obviously, eloquence is not my forte, what I'm trying to say though is that whatever I'm trying to say is applicable to post-wedding:

Do any of the younger generation brides remember hearing their parents talk about how expensive thank you notes (I guess only if you do professional calligraphy or something like that) and photo albums and large prints are?

I personally remember dreading post wedding because of these unexpected costs; unexpected because you already spent so much on the wedding, right? I need to fork out more money?? And a lot, at that?! No thanks. Can someone make this easier for me please?

Enter The Internet. We are a lucky generation to have access to all the internet deals that we do, all the weird programs that randomly give you half off deals for NO REASON! All the random websites that give you free stuff just for writing reviews or some other easy dumb thing. The random awesome websites that just give away free stuff for NO REASON just because they were feeling charitable that day. I have to thank a few faceless weirdos-- I mean heroes:

For the best free stuff just for writing reviews: WeddingWire
For the most amazing $100 off deal for wrapped canvas prints: LivingSocial
For amazing wrapped canvas prints: EasyCanvasPrints and fabness
For the best randomness like free pictures for Leap Day and free labels for 'Hey, it's the end of January' day and a free photobook for 'Hey, it's the first day of Spring!' day: SHUTTERFLY!

Are you following me?? I wouldn't be able to do what I've been able to do without these completely random but unquestionably awesome deals and steals. I was able to get Thank You notes from Shutterfly at a great price because they were running a completely random $30 off deal so Thank You notes only cost about $70 or something like that. Wanna' see?

Please excuse all the crap on my coffee table. I am aware of how distracting it is. So, as you can see, we couldn't decide, then I realized we didn't have to, what's wrong with having two designs?? Nothing! So we do. In this same order, I believe I also got free shipping because it was over $30 AND they were also giving away 50 free pictures. So I also got pictures to include for grandparents, etc... So now I'm just feeling guilty that we haven't finished them yet. To be honest, I realized early on that there are a couple gifts that never came with names and so I've been dreading writing thank you notes ever since then :)

Seems silly doesn't it? It is, but then also house hunting has taken up a lot, a lot of time too. Anyway, then as I mentioned above, we also got a couple prints for super cheap and one for free, and one was included in our photography package. Wanna' see the grand total?

Again, sorry for the coffee table clutter, and for the little puppy butt on the left side. Trust me when I say that it's disconcerting looking at gigantic-sized pictures of yourself. It's weird, I try not to get too close to the center one.

ANYWAY, because of internet deals, we got a room's worth of wedding portraiture for under $100!! Basically, it's kind of a big deal, for me at least. We still have to navigate the scary world of albums, but not yet. I keep telling myself that after this little victory, I get to relax for awhile ;)

In the meantime, I'm also working on Inspiration vs. Reality boards. Doesn't that sound promising?! It's gonna' be epic. Ya'll probably have some idea of how my overactive mind works at this point, and when it comes to how I pictured our wedding vs. how our wedding was pictured? I'm tingling with excitement. It's a manic, nervous excitement:

That's what it looks like. Anyway, back to work. I'm hoping we're honing in on our future home. We have had some frustrating times but this past weekend was productive. I can't wait to reveal our new home!!! We have to have one first though, so, until then, I'll be back soon with some pretty boards!

So for all those readin' along, are you already in your permanent home with your hubby or soon-to-be hubby? or are you house hunting too? And if the latter, are you having trouble focusing on anything else?? Where my first time homebuyers at?!

More pausing for money saving

Another break from recaps for great deals!!

I don't usually like to brag, but I ALWAYS manage to learn about great deals the day after I've bought something full price or the deal is going to start in a week but I need it today, etc, etc...

I'm not very patient and I don't usually go looking for deals because to me, the convenience of just buying something usually outweighs all the trouble people go through to get deals! Now, sometimes it's just laziness, but I had to write about the run of great luck I've been getting... again, not bragging, I'm just usually not at all this lucky:

I got an e-mail a day or so ago from Wedding Wire saying that since I'd reviewed a few vendors they were giving me a free gift. It just so happened it was an 8x10 canvas print (one of the fancy ones with wrapped edges, ohhhhh).

This is from Easy Canvas Prints and as cheesy as it sounds, it was really easy, and I've already placed my order using one of the pictures that I'll be going over in the recaps in due time.

Then, in my inbox yesterday is a deal from Shutterfly for 50 free pictures... just 'cuz. I think the deal was just for yesterday, so, sorry to those who aren't on Shutterfly's mailing list. I need to send grandparents, etc... family formals so I was able to get those for free. While I was on Shutterfly's website I also saw that they were running a 'spend $30, get free shipping' deal as well, so I figured that even though Wedding Paper Divas might have a little better quality stuff, now (while we're trying to buy a house) might be the best time to not go so extravagant with the spending. Oh yeah, Shutterfly thank you notes are literally half the price of WPD's... I love my guests, I really do, but let's be reasonable (literally!! $1.03 each versus $2.08 each!!).

So I saved almost $100 going with Shutterfly, add that to the $60 I saved on an extraneous 8x10 canvas print! Not bad for a Wednesday!

But wait! There's more!! This morning, I get to work and find the most appropriate Living Social deal I have ever found (for a just-married person, that is):

Uhhh, yeah, yes please, thank you. Here is the link by the way if you would like to take advantage yourself (and maybe help me out in the process XD):

Help Ashley Save Even MORE Money!!

Yes, that was a shameless plug (for those who aren't familiar with the Living Social structure, if three people buy this deal using my link, I get my deal free... yeah, I know, shameless). But either way, I'm very happy to have saved $100 outright. Now, because it was such a fabulous deal and I saw little to lose, I went ahead and bought two (Living Social often puts a lot of restricts on the number of a deal you can buy, but this one is unlimited) so add another $100 to the savings scoreboard and over the past two days I've saved $360 and for all my troubles I've got three canvas prints of wedding pictures, 50 wedding pictures and 75 thank you cards.

Whew, I've also got a credit with Ben still for a fine art print that was part of our contract, so... minus albums, which I haven't started thinking about just yet, I went from having no wedding prints, to having lots. That's what I like to call jackpot.

Please excuse me for gloating, I'm really usually not this consumer-savvy, so, thanks for letting me have my moment.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program!

Recap Pause Help!

The Man reminded me last night that we need to start working on Thank You notes... or rather that we should have already started on Thank You notes. I was waiting for the pictures to come in because I wanted to see if we could get picture thank you cards from Shutterfly or Weddingpaperdivas.

Well, nothing could be easier. He then proceeds to tell me that I can pick the style and picture and that he's sure that I'll do a perfect job (all the married ladies are laughing right now like "You really thought he was going to sit down and go over pictures and styles for thank you cards?!" Yeah yeah, shut up).

I'm sure he's right, and no matter what we pick, it's going to be just fine, but still, I've got a few great ones to choose from and I need some help!

First, the choices from Shutterfly (cheaper, but maybe not as high quality as weddingpaperdivas):

I realize I'm spoiling some future recaps, but it's only a little spoiler, and you deserve it anyway for being awesome readers... Plus, I really need to get this decision over and done with.

You'll notice I need help with the picture AND the style choice... 'cause I'm ridiculously indecisive that way.

And from Weddingpaperdivas (more expensive, but maybe a little thicker paper, better quality, etc...):

 

Yes, the one on the bottom left looks boring, but the inside has really nice script Thank You and info, etc...

Does anyone have experience with picture Thank You notes? What's your favorite company? Any help on which style/picture is the best?? Thanks!! (ha ha, get it, these are your thank you notes for helping me make a decision!)