Seems like ALL of our friends are getting engaged and having weddings. From the time we were engaged (NYE) until our wedding next June – we will have attended 9 weddings. It’s insane. We have 3 in the next month. I’m taking a break from planning until September.. I just can’t take all this wedding stuff. (I’m only HALF serious)
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The future hubby and I got all snazzy to hit the town for a hip hop concert in downtown Detroit on Saturday. I was lucky enough to win two tickets to see Jay Electronica and Slum Village from Public Media Group at St. Andrew’s Hall (or so I thought). I was the first person to respond that I wanted two free tickets. COOL!! Can’t turn down a ANYTHING free – especially during WEDDING BUDGET season. So.. I’m given the option of picking up the tickets or having my name on the list at the door. I love to have paper tickets in hand – but picking them up from Royal Oak when I live way out 94 – doesn’t seem like an option – so I opt to have my name +1 added to the list.
We get there just after 8pm, see our friends in line, have a couple laughs – The future Hubby and I haven’t been on a date in a while and haven’t been to a hip hop concert inside of the city since…. since… We looked forward to the night out. He hadn’t heard of Jay Electronica – so I hoped this would restore his faith in hip hop.
Anyway.. long story short.. get up to the window and hand the woman my license only to be told that my name is not on the list and that it was probably removed because the list was so long.. HUNH? How does that make sense?
So – I get home and e-mail Jeremy D (the guy that told me I won in the first place) about the bogusness (yes – I said bogusness) of the situation and he gives some tidbits that don’t help me: 1. the promoter swears my name is on the list 2. I need to return to the window and get my tix (yeah – that’s cute – I’m 40 minutes away now)…
Then he tells me that basically it was my fault – because I didn’t e-mail him right away from the ticket window. I’m sorry – I don’t make it a habit to carry my laptop around with me to hip hop concerts. Epic FAIL on his part for trying to blame ME in this situation. So – I suggested that from now on he leave paper tickets for winners at the door – since he knows this type of thing is an issue (another tidbit he shared with me – thanks Jeremy) :-/
Whatever… in the end – The future Hubby and I took a nice stroll through Greektown, stopped for some coldstone and thought about how nice it would be to get some wedding shots on the steps of Old St. Mary’s Church.
In other news… I went paper shopping in Royal Oak yesterday with one of my Bridesmaids who happens to be the BOMB graphic designer.. We wanted to check out Envelopments paper for my invitations and programs, etc.
I LOVE Envelopments paper – but what I DON’T love is Write Impressions. They have TONS of great paper goods and fun little gift ideas.. but customer service they do NOT! They were down right rude and inconsiderate. Which is crazy – because there weren’t that many people in the store and it was a good 20 minutes before we even asked for help. Something as small as a quote seemed to be too much for the salesgirl to handle. She didn’t even say – “I’ll be right back” when she got up to give her co-worker money for lunch.. despite the fact that I was mid sentence with a question. And she argued with me for a good minute about envelopes even when I told her to go ahead and put them on the quote – despite my lack of desire to purchase them. And then… she randomly got up to check the weather on the internet.. so we just took the half finished quote and waved goodbye while she chatted on the phone with a friend about the weather.
Needless to say – we’ll be be trying to find the Envelopments paper somewhere else.
Seriously – what is it with people?
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Exactly one year from today I will be Mrs. DetroitGyrl.. Or is that Mrs. DetroitBoy? Hmm. decisions.
Anywho. It’s the one year mark and that means – according to EVERY wedding planning guide – there are things that need to be checked off this month. I feel like we’re a little ahead of the game right now.. but that could change at any minute if I go weeks without planning anything.
I guess it’s really time for me to get in gear with some of the other things I have on my list besides – venue and dress. I did send out my official invites to my bridesmaids, maid of honor and matron of honor. Let’s hope they all say yes. 
Next on my list.
1. Shoes for my dress so it can begin the alteration stages.
2. Nailing down my wedding coordinator.
3. Save the dates.. they are already designed.. I just need to order them.
4. Second revision of Guest list.
5. COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS for everything Decor related.
I’ll update you soon on the things that we have totally nailed down.
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We had the privilege of working with Carl Jones Photography on Memorial day to capture our official set of engagement photos.
We had a great time. Carl and his wife are so professional and organized. They knew we wanted a Detroit city theme – so they scouted out tons of sites around the city and had a list of great poses that we could copy and modify. We were so comfortable and got almost 300 totally usable shots of out the 3.5hour shoot. It was a pleasure to work with them and we can’t wait to see the final product.
For now – here is a sneak preview of our “unofficial” official save the date pic.
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That’s our OFFICIAL wedding date. We signed our contract at The Whitney today. They will be hosting both our ceremony and reception. I’m very excited because it’s a GREAT venue in the heart of the City we love!
We had a few different places on our list – but we totally fell in love with the Whitney. Originally the plan was to wait until June 30th to make a final decision – but we knew by the end of the tour on April 23rd that the Whitney would be our wedding home.
An advantage to setting our date 12.5 months early is that we got our first choice for wedding dates and spaces, we were able to work out a few “extras” and now we can start working on other aspects of the wedding without having to nail down a venue.
Next on the list – DECOR, DECOR, DECOR!!!!
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It’s almost June – which means our wedding will be 1 year away. We’re very excited.. but we still don’t have a venue yet. We have a few ideas – but nothing set in stone yet. We got a chance to see our top two venues on April 23rd. We still haven’t made a decision – both have their perks, both have their downfalls…
We’ll certainly nail one down by June 30th – so I’ll keep you all posted..
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We are really excited about our potential venue. We’ll be checking it out this Friday with their event planner. We’re going to take the entire tour, see what they have to offer and decide if that will be our Wedding HOME! We MUST keep this wedding at around 12K – so this will be our first TEST!
I’ll keep you posted on the details.
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Yeah.. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Not that the professional ones aren’t a great idea too.. In fact – they’re pretty inexpensive.. But for someone like me who doesn’t want to get all sensual in front of someone else.. or who has an FI who doesn’t want you to get all sensual in front of someone else. I have a few tips.
1. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting. The best way to get great shots in your own room is to make sure the lighting is JUST right. You have to try different things – opening a curtain, turning all the lights off and using the flash, putting a lamp by the bed but out of the shot, etc.
2. Clothing Optional. You can strip tease on film. Start in something he loves to see you wear and make it all the way to ALMOST Bare! (yeah – I rhymed that myself). Some guys like to be teased. Some guys like to see it all – and if you do them yourself – that IS an option. Just make sure you don’t let them get into the wrong hands.
3. The bed.. Make it pretty or pretty messy. Set the scene. Take test shots to make sure the bed looks the way you want it.
4. Creative angles. A tripod is ideal.. if you don’t have one – try sitting the camera on a movable table, the dresser, a drawer chest, etc. That’s what an automatic timer is for.
5. Set the mood. Have a glass of wine and play your favorite Jill Scott, Norah Jones, etc CD. Light some candles and remind your self how beautiful you are.
6. Try poses and faces. Take as many shots as you like.. Look them over and try again. They don’t have to be perfect because you’re the only one who’ll see them – until you’re ready to share them with your FI.
7. Have fun! Don’t be afraid to be daring in your pics. And laugh at yourself if you catch yourself in an awkward pose. It’s a chance to have fun with yourself.
If you’re really daring.. Get your FI to take the shots! It could turn into a REALLY fun date night.
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Ok – so this topic has come up a few times since we’ve announced our engagement… What will my new name be? Whoa – new name? Oh yeah.. I’ll be the same person but called by a new name. Hmm.. How do I feel about that?
Now – as long as I can remember… I’ve met many, many women who have come to the point in their lives where they take their hubby’s name. But for some reason – as the time for me to make that switch comes closer and closer – I am starting to feel like re-introducing myself to society is a little 9th hour. I mean – I know “that’s how it’s done.” But why??
I’ve been me for almost 29 years.. almost 30 years by the time of the wedding.. and I’m VERY comfortable with who I am. I’ve learned my habits, changed a few and learned to love myself and be the best me I can be.. and now I’m supposed to change all of that?
On the flip side.. I’m becoming a wife to a WONDERFUL man.. a man I’ve known would be my husband for 17 years. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to be “Mrs. DetroitBoy.” I imagine what it would be like to walk into a room and be called- “Mrs. DetroitBoy” – for the first time. I’d turn around and coyly reply – “Yes?” (::eyelash flutter::)
That’s just what women do.. they change their last name in America and become known as someone new… and re-invented.
But I’m the same old DetroitGyrl.. but with a hubby now..I’m the dancer, the artist, the chef, the daughter, the writer (oh yeah – and I’m published in my field – changing my name would most certainly confuse things). And I’m not sure I’m ready to just BE SOMEONE else.
The future hubby and I have had conversations about hyphenation and changing my last name to a middle name.. and even me just taking his name. I just can’t decide – so many pros and cons. And at the end of the day – I don’t mind being referred to as Mrs. DetroitBoy – I’m just not sure I want to legally CHANGE my identity..
Thoughts?
~DetroitGyrl
(ps – and no – I’m not trying to destroy the institute of marriage or emasculate my DetroitBoy by keeping my name.. I’m just trying to make the best decision for US, me, my career, my SANITY, etc.)
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So a little birdie (Twitter, of course), told me that Anthropologie is going to start offering wedding gowns. I’ve only discovered Anthropologie myself in the last couple years, but I loooove their stuff. It’s always so girly and feminine. Sometimes a little too vintage-y for me, but overall, very nice stuff.
Now, all you brides getting married this summer, don’t get your hopes up. The line of bridal gowns isn’t set to debut until next spring.
Check out the full story at InStyle.
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